Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Price They Paid ❯ In the Public Eye II ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Public Eye II

The media frenzy increased in intensity in the next few days spurred on by Trowa's sad eyed commentaries
on the ever more hard core footage. Public outrage was at full cry when the final footage was shown.

This consisted of a simple showing of the wanted posters on all of them. The colonies were embarrassed,
ESUN was outraged, the common man wanted 'Justice'.

Relena solemnly promised that everything would be looked into.

The first benefit of all this uproar was that the travel interdict was lifted. They no longer had to apply for
travel permits.

Quatre took advantage of this to take Trowa and go to L4 for extended visits to all the sisters who had
supported him in his fight against the six or so who wanted control of WEI. Relena was there to see him off.
She whispered in his ear during their social kiss and he patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry about him I've got it covered."

Relena whispered back. "I just hope Heero doesn't strangle him."

~ * ~

Heero sat at his computer and grumbled. He really wanted his laptop, but the facility didn't allow personal
computers. All computers had to be connected to the facility net work.

"Come on, come on. Do not freeze on me." Of course it did. "Nooooo. I've got two hours of work in there.
Damnit. Glad I saved, like, three minutes ago. Fucking useless piece of shit damn door stop." Heero gave in
to his more atavistic urges and snapped the keyboard into bits with quick flexes of powerful fingers.
"Damnit, this is ridiculous. I've got classes to keep up with. I can't afford for some cheap piece of crap to
hold up production. I . . .fucking come the hell in already." The gentile tapping at the door was an added
irritation.

Heero turned to see Milliardo standing in the doorway with one eyebrow raised. He couldn't even convince
himself to be chagrined.

"This piece of crap is unacceptable. I've got some complicated blueprints to do for my Colonial Design class
and this . . . door stop won't do. I need a graphic plotter and a . . . " Heero clamped his lips shut at
Milliardo's up raised hand.

"I don't need to know what complicated and esoteric piece of equipment you need for your class. Just write
an e-mail to the Warden and you'll have it next day. I'm here because you're late for therapy. Come on. Shut
that thing down and I'll show you to the therapy unit."

Heero reached over, picked up a microphone, and snapped, "Shut down." Turning to Milliardo, he
sheepishly pointed to the keyboard. "Lucky I put audio protocols in place. I'm not usualy destructive but this
thing would try the patience of a saint. Which I'm not . . . in case you hadn't noticed."

Milliardo smirked. "I've noticed. Come on. You don't want to antagonize Miss O'Donnell first thing. She
can be quite . . . strict. Do you need help?"

Heero was on his feet finally, he couldn't believe how hard it was for him to use crutches. He was
coordinated and strong, so it should be a lot easier than it was.

"Only if I'm supposed to bring something. If I get any more awkward on these things, I'll look suicidal."

Milliardo shook his head. "You need to change into something with a little more ease, like sweats. I'll get
them for you if you like."

Heero just nodded and waited while Milliardo retrieved sweats from his closet, he had one set, silk screened
with 'property of Fitzroy'

"I feel like a complete dork. I can't get use to these crutches, I'm all . . . arms and legs." Heero started
stripping down to change into the sweats. Milliardo started to turn his back then stood shocked to his core as
he saw the scars on Heero's torso. "What?" Heero looked down. "You think I self-destructed without
consequences?"

Milliardo closed his mouth and then apologized. "I'm sorry . . . I thought you would have had something
done about them by now."

"Why? I'm functional. That's all that counts. Soldiers have scars. Internal and external." Heero tugged the
pants up and reached to put the regen unit back on his leg. "I think I'll leave this off. I can't exercise in it, so
it can just stay there. Orders be damned." He tossed it on the dresser instead.

Heero yanked the shirt on over his head and started after Milliardo. He led the way out the door and onto a
path through a very nice garden. They took their time so that Heero wouldn't fall. Heero admired the garden
and wished he could walk in it on his own.

"You're free to walk in the gardens anytime you want. You see the walls over there? You're not allowed
past them. Anything inside the walls is fair game. There's even a stable. If you ride all you have to do is
speak to the stableman to set up a time."

Milliardo opened the door for Heero and followed him in then introduced him to Miss O'Donnell. "I"ll
leave you two to enjoy each others company."

Heero settled into the chair and listened as Miss O'Donnell gave him the 'you have to put some effort into
it' lecture, or started to.

"Ma'am, I know more about therapy than most people my age. All you have to do is show me which
exercises you think I should do. I'll take it from there. I'm exceptionally strong and your projected regimen
will fall far short of what I actually have to do to bring this leg back to optimum. But . . ."

Miss O'Donnell handed him the clipboard silently. He looked the outline over carefully and realized that the
therapist had access to records that had been classified until recently.

"I see that you have seen at least some of my training records. This outline is nearly perfect for me. And only
me. Anyone else who tried to keep that schedule would be flat on their back in no time."

"Yes. Frankly I'm appalled. Anyone who would put a child through some of the things you were forced into
is . . . I'm a lady so I'll shut up now."

Heero grunted, he just wanted to get through this session and find his lunch. He was hungry as breakfast had
consisted of dry cereal and instant coffee.

After an hour of work, Heero was sweating and Miss O'Donnell was wondering if Heero wasn't just a bit
masochistic. He'd already completed the exercises necessary to restore function to his leg and was almost
done with another series of exercises intended to support his return to normal activities. If what you
considered normal was being ready to perform an iron man at a moment's notice.

"You could stop and rest." Heero stopped so suddenly that the machine protested, making an odd crunching
noise. "It's not like it's a matter of life and death . . . er . . . I."

But Heero was laying on the machine with an arrested look on his face. Thinking furiously, he examined all
the ramifications of not finishing his intended routine.

"I think I'm done for the day. I'll have to re-evaluate my intended program. I'd like your advice, if you don't
mind." At Miss O'Donnell's nod, Heero continued. "Should I go for the quick fix, the fastest route to
optimum performance, or for the best? Do I have time to do it truly right? Or am I going to have to . . . "

Miss O'Donnell was shaking her head, so Heero shut up and waited for her to gather her thoughts.

"You have all the time you need to do it right. If you rush too much, you're going to suffer for it later. If you
do it right, you'll come out of this better than you were. So take the time to do it right, ok?"

Heero reached for a towel and sighed. "I'll take it easy and do it right. It's a luxury I never had before. Thank
you for your patience. I know I'm not a very good patient, but I've had to take care of myself for so long I'm
not sure how to act when someone wants to take care of me. Duo is always fussing at me for it. Quatre too.
Come to think of it, even Wufei gives me a hard time."

After looking around, Miss O'Donnell asked where the regen unit was, and, when Heero told her he'd left it
in the room, she asked him to be sure to bring it to her next day. He didn't need it anymore and she had to
send it back to the hospital.

"Now, I want you to be very careful for a while longer. I don't want you showering alone. If you fall and
rebreak . . ."

"Yes, if one more person tells me that, I'm going to have a fit. I'll ask Merquise to stay with me. Can I go
now?"

At her 'Yes. Go, Mr. Cranky Pants' he gathered up the much hated crutches and headed for the door. He
found it easier to maneuver the crutches without the box of the regen unit strapped to him.

He tapped carefully on Milliardo's door. When he answered, bare-chested and wearing nothing else but
jeans, Heero told him that he needed him to stay while he showered, just in case. Milliardo nodded and
reached for a t-shirt.

"I'm right behind you. I'll just wait in the other room. Or should I come in the bathroom?"

Heero considered for a moment, then said, "You better come in the bathroom. I'm taking a shower. I hate
baths. If I start to fall, what good are you going to be clear in the other room?"

Milliardo, who loved soaking in a tub, wondered why Heero hated baths, so he asked.

"It's too easy to get pushed under, and why would you want to sit in the dirt you just washed off? Doesn't
make sense."

Heero took a shower and when he stepped out onto the bathmat found out that he was still clumsy. His
newly healed leg still wasn't up to antics, so he slipped, wound up clutched to Milliardo's chest, and taught
him a new swear word.

"What's Shimatta? Let me sit you on this stool."

Heero flushed, his cheeks pinking slightly. "It's Japanese for shit. Hand me another towel please."

Milliardo reached into the linen closet for a towel and caught his hair on the hinge of the folding door. When
he straightened up and pulled back he pulled his hair quite hard.

"Ow! Damnit. I swear, if it wasn't family tradition, I'd cut this mess. It gets caught in things, it's all over the
bed, in my mouth. Gah!"

Heero hobbled over and caught Milliardo by the back of the head, pushing him back into the closet and
deftly disentangling the offending lock of hair.

"Here. Why don't you braid it? I never understood that."

While Heero dressed Milliardo explained that his long hair was symbolic of his family's dedication to
justice and freedom, therefor he didn't braid it or tie it. Heero gave him back a rather nasty smirk.

"Well, I have a thought. You're not free. Very nice prison, but a prison none the less. Braid it. Tight.
Symbolic of the fact that you're not free. Rub their noses in it. You're in the same boat I'm in. Quatre has
something up his sleeve and this might help us both." Heero settled back on the stool, motioned for
Milliardo to kneel between his knees and waited.

Milliardo dropped to his knees and scooted back against Heero. Heero leaned over to retrieved a hair brush
and an elastic tie from his kit. He started brushing Milliardo's hair and found a tangle just under and behind
his left ear. He spent some time carefully working the tangle out and found himself teary eyed.

Milliardo balanced on the balls of his feet and swivelled to see Heero sitting with his hands over his face
gasping for breath. He took Heero's hands in one of his and stroked his arm until he relaxed.

"Shhh. Hush. It's ok. I understand. You miss him something terrible, don't you. I'm so sorry. I'll go now.
You don't have to do this."

Milliardo palmed the tears off Heero's cheeks gently and started to get up. Heero stopped him with a hand
on his shoulder.

"Yes I do. I'm not going to be defeated by a hank of hair. It's just . . . shit." Heero found himself being
hugged against a strong, broad chest. After a few minutes of silent comfort he sighed, pushed away, and
gave Milliardo a slightly diffident look. " Aamm . . . Duo and I . . . we're a couple. You know that, don't
you?"

"Yes. No one with eyes to see could think other wise. I'm in a committed relationship myself. I hope you . . .
don't get the wrong idea. . . . " Milliardo eyed Heero's red face. "I can see that you did. I meant nothing
more than comfort. I'm sorry if you were . . ."

Heero got himself together, picked the brush back up and smiled. "Well, that was completely embarrassing.
Forget it happened, please. I'm . . . not good at interpersonal relationships, yet. I'm getting better, but I still
get confused sometimes."

Milliardo smiled back at Heero. "We all do. You're doing quite well. As to the hug, Miss Noin will
understand. And you need comfort, so do I. I mean nothing more than the same comfort you get from say,
Quatre or one of the others, excepting Duo. If that is acceptable to you of course."

Heero sighed, thought for a moment then admitted that it would be nice.

"Get back there. I'm finishing that braid. Why don't you do it yourself? I don't mind, but you can't . . . well,
you could. But you need to be able to do it yourself."

Milliardo blushed so hard the back of his neck got red. "I never braided it before, against tradition you
know. Now that I want to, I don't know how. If you will help me with it for a while, I'll learn to do it
myself. It's a very visible statement. Thanks for the idea." Milliardo sighed softly. "That feels so good. In all
my life no one ever brushed my hair for me that I remember. I've taken care of it by myself since Sanq fell."

Heero efficiently braided the silken mass into a tight braid and snapped the elastic around the end. He
braided it much tighter than he would Duo's and then eyed the ragged bangs dangling in Milliardo's eyes
and brushing against his cheeks. He decided the contrast of the loose locks and tight braid made the right
statement.

"There. That ought to hold it."

Milliardo eyed it doubtfully, his hair was thick and heavy and he'd seen some bands that he wouldn't trust
for more than a few seconds.

"You sure? I'd hate for all your work to be wasted. Thank you for brushing it out by the way. I've been
thinking seriously about cutting it off. But I really hate to do that. It's just that it's so much trouble to mess
with, with all my other duties. Now that I'm not a . . . an officer, I don't have to create a mystique. Well,
just every thing is different now, so why not that."

"Because that would be giving in to them. What you did was wrong as far as I'm concerned, but you did
your duty as you saw it, without malice . . . unlike some. Oh, and you are still Prince of Sanq, as far as I
know. So, you shouldn't be here. I'd like to know what Relena and Quatre are up to . . . but let sleeping
dogs lie as Duo would say.

"And I'm sure it'll hold. It's one of Duo's. I kept a bunch in my kit for him. He can't keep track of them.
They're all over the place. So. . . . here. I'll give you some of these and you need a different brush from the
one you're using. Get one of those big paddle shaped ones and ditch that military issue piece of shit you're
using now."

Milliardo made mental notes, stuffing the proffered ties into a pocket.

Then a sudden rumbling noise startled them both. Heero flushed *I'm doing a lot of that lately* and
Milliardo blinked.

"What did you have for breakfast? I didn't see you in the cafeteria. So . . . "

Heero shrugged dismissively. "Dry cereal and instant coffee. No one's replenished my sundries. It's ok. I've
been avoiding the cafeteria and eating in my quarters, but I'd really like a good lunch. " Another rumble
seconded that idea.

"That's not enough food for a growing, or healing, boy." Milliardo eyed the breadth of Heero's shoulders
"and I have a feeling you're doing both. And those clothes." Milliardo shuddered. "After lunch we're going
to the mall. If you're going to be seen with me, you're going to dress a lot better than prison fatigues. Come
on."

Heero started to say something repressive about fatigues being all he needed, then he thought 'but are they
all I want? Quatre is going to want to take me places. Who better to teach me how to dress than him.'

"Ok. What's for lunch? And when we go shopping, who's going to pay. I don't have a lot of money. Quatre
promised me a job when I get out, but for now I'm . . . well, impoverished doesn't quite cover it."

Milliardo waved a negligent hand and opened the door to the cafeteria. Heero blinked and then sighed, it
looked like a high class restaurant. He hated this kind of place. They didn't serve anything he liked, but
beggars couldn't be choosers.

"I'll pay for anything you want and possibly some things you don't. If you offer to pay me back I'll be quite
offended. I have few pleasures and spending my income is one of them. I have so few people to spend it on
that the interest is beginning to accumulate at an outrageous pace. Sit here." Milliardo motioned to a table in
a small alcove. " It's my favorite. You'll find some of my quirks quite amusing."

Heero examined the alcove as he sat. No one could get behind either of them and they had a good view of
the entire room. He couldn't help it, he burst out laughing.

"Oh, shit. Duo will go out of his mind." Heero palmed his streaming eyes. "That's if we can have visitors. If
it's possible, I'd like to have all my friends for lunch or dinner some day."

"We can have up to six guests at a time for lunch only. You have to make reservations in advance but there's
not much trouble. They have to be approved but I don't see any problem with the other pilots."

A waiter approached and slapped menus down on the table, dumped two glasses of water in front of them
and stalked off.

Heero raised an eyebrow.

Milliardo tapped the table with impatient fingers.

"Perhaps I should sit somewhere else." Heero assumed the dislike was aimed at him.

"If you'd like. I'll take you over and introduce you to Mr. Pool. He's an accountant. Money laundering
charge. Very nice. Kind of foolish. Hates political conversation. You won't be annoyed with this foolishness
seated with him."

Milliardo started to rise to his feet but Heero shook his head. "You mean that little display is something
you're subjected to at every meal."

"Yes. Attempting to blow up Earth seems to upset people somehow. No one wants to understand the effects
of Zero. I'll never live it down. The main reason Relena is having trouble getting me released is no one
wants to take . . . er . . . custody of me. I'll never be released on my own recognizance, but . . . well, never
mind. Here. The stroganoff is very good and the flan is excellent." He buried his face in the menu, falling
silent before he let his bitterness show.

Heero eyed the menu and decided on the stroganoff, a spinach salad, and the flan. When the waiter came
back he gave him such an evil eye that he gulped.

"I don't appreciate having things slammed on the table. I have some nasty reflexes. If you trigger them, bad
things could happen. I won't be blamed for it either. Just a warning, you understand." The waiter gulped
again and nodded vigorously. "Just be glad that His Highness is more stable than I am. That little display
could have triggered . . . Things better left unsaid." Heero bent the heavy silver fork into a U-shape.
Milliardo raised a startled eye brow. "Drat. Don't know my own strength. I'm so sorry about that. Could you
please bring me another?" Heero gave the waiter what Duo would have called a 'please mister don't be mad'
look, then turned to Milliardo to begin a conversation about strategy and tactics of Alexander the Great that
would keep them both amused throughout lunch. Milliardo managed not to laugh by biting the inside of his
cheek, hard.

After lunch Milliardo insisted on going to the mall. Heero hung back a bit, he still couldn't convince himself
that they wouldn't be dragged back and punished somehow. The short walk to the mall had him flinching
and checking every shadow.

"Calm down. We checked out at the desk didn't we? The Sargent had you sign out. They know where we're
going. And I have my leash. If you're going to jump at shadows, we're not going to enjoy this at all."

Heero managed to get himself under control, and by the time they reached the mall was actually looking
forward to the experience. He'd never bought and payed for much of anything. Oden had taken care of it
when they were together and J hadn't allowed him much in the way of possessions. Saying that lead to
attachment. *Why shouldn't you get attached to things? It's natural.*

As they walked through the mall Heero decided on several things he wanted. He still had the MP3 player
that Pete had given him. He wanted to find music for it and some audio books. That was one of Heero's
secret vices; he liked to be read to. He'd listened to all the books Duo and Pete had downloaded for him so
he wanted some new ones. He also wanted a pair of new boots. His old ones were worn at the ankles from
the leg irons and wouldn't last much longer.

"I'd like new boots, some music and books. I'd also like a really good suit. That damn thing I wore at my
trial was . . . horrible. Looked ok, but it didn't fit right, so I was always uncomfortable. And I want some
new sweats and jeans that don't look like prison fatigues. And . . ."

Milliardo held up both hands in surrender. "Anything you want. I'll get it for you. Come on, let's look at
small things first. Like . . . here's the music store. We'll get your books and MP3's first. Then we can look at
some clothing and . . . I'm sorry. I wasn't snooping, or at least not for the wrong reasons. You understand?"
Heero just shrugged. He didn't care as he was well aware that Milliardo was trying to help. "You need socks
and underwear and pyjamas." He patted pockets "I've got a list here somewhere."

He drew it out and consulted it. He had his own ideas of some of the things Heero should have. He was,
after all was said and done, only four years older than Heero. He lead the way into the music store and
turned Heero loose with cart blanche. Heero sat down at the catalogue and started picking, he connected his
unit to the catalogue and started shopping. He'd cleared the unit earlier, moving books he didn't want or had
already read to his desk top, he'd done the same for music, which left lots of space for new stuff. And he
intended to load it to capacity. No telling when he'd get the chance again.

It took him nearly an hour. He checked on Milliardo but he had wandered off to get himself some coffee. So
he took his time instead of hurrying. He bought everything he wanted for once instead of picking and
choosing. If Milliardo felt he'd spent too much, Duo would pay for it. Or Trowa, or Quatre, even Wufei
would pay. When he got the invoice, he snickered. It was quite expensive, but worth every penny.

Milliardo wandered back with coffee in hand. Heero eyed the coffee drink with a slightly jaundiced eye.

"I thought you liked tea. What's with the coffee thing?"

"I do like tea, but the tea here is atrocious. This is good, and this time of afternoon I could use a lift. You
done here? What's the damage?" Milliardo raised an eyebrow, not at the cost, which was negligible to him,
but at some of the titles of books Heero had picked.

"The Wind in the Willows. Under the Lilacs? By who . . . Oh, Louisa May Alcott. And Strategy and Tactics
for Three-dimensional Combat. Poetry of Chang Li. Quite a range of literature. You're quite well rounded."

Heero took the invoice from Milliardo and tucked it into a pocket. "Not really. I'm trying to be more well
rounded. Quatre suggested most of the Classics. There's a lot of Asimov and Heinlein. Other Twentieth
century writers and more Twenty First. He said I should read the top ten novels from every century since the
twentieth. So. That's not that much, so I decided on the top fifteen. That should keep me occupied for a
couple of months. And . . . "Heero trailed off at Milliardo's astonished expression. "What? I read really fast.
J made sure of that. And I like music, so . . . Milliardo, if you want to kill J get in line, way after me. But you
know he's dead. Didn't you order it yourself?"

"No, but if I'd known half what I do now I surely would have. Well. Forget that and come on, you still need
clothes. And I'm picking most of them. I won't set you up as a copy of me, but I have definite ideas of how
you should dress and convict-juvie isn't it. Jeans yes, and t-shirts. But those boots are truly awful."

They walked along the mall with Heero happily doing the 'gawking tourist' bit. Looking in windows and
rubbernecking unashamedly. Milliardo watched him with enjoyment of his own.

Picking out clothing turned out to be easy, Heero told Milliardo that he wanted to dress like Quatre when he
was casual. This was easy as Milliardo and Quatre had learned to dress in the same 'school'. So they got
pants like Dockers and Levi's, cargo pants, jeans and such. Heero admitted that he only liked button down
shirts for dress, so they loaded up on knit styles, rugby and polo shirts and t-shirts. And they nearly laughed
themselves onto the floor as they said in unison 'no spandex!'

They made arrangements to have their purchases delivered and when the clerk realized what the address was
she turned a little pale. Heero standing behind Milliardo gave her a dirty look then a pleading one. She
refrained from remark and they left.

Then Milliardo took Heero to the electronics store. He didn't bother to ask Heero what he wanted, he just
held out his hand and politely requested his player. Heero handed it over and watched as Milliardo picked
out a book reader, a nice bedside stereo and a high-priced set of ear buds. When he picked up a hand-held
game Heero stopped him. Milliardo took exception, "You deserve it. And I'm going to buy it for you. You
can use it or not as you please."

"Oh, I'm going to be greedy for the first time in my life. I want that system." Heero pointed to a different
box. "It has a hand-held and a console, and they use the same chips. So, two for the price of one, and I don't
have to loose my data when I switch from one to the other."

Heero looked like a teenager. His obvious desire for that particular system, and his pleasure in the thought of
having, it made him look like a happy seventeen year old. Heero shifted his right-hand crutch to his left arm
and tried to pick the box up himself. Milliardo kept him from knocking over the whole pile.

"Here let me do that before you knock the whole thing over. You're going to make a mess."

"Without explosives? . . . not a chance. Thanks. I'll just stand here like a lump and let you handle it."

Heero gave Milliardo a long suffering look but couldn't hold it for more than a few seconds.

Again arrangements were made to have their purchases delivered to the facility.

Heero led Milliardo to the back of the store where he looked longingly at components. He spent some time
reading boxes and wishing. He could make modifications to his laptop with some of the parts that would
make it even faster than it was now. But he couldn't even have it. Duo was taking care of it for him. *Duo, I
wish you were here, you'd love this.* he gave a memory module one last longing look and started for the
door.

"That bad, is it?"

"Worse. You have no idea. I hate that brick I'm using now with an unholy passion. I . . . it's not even ego.
I'm taking classes that need the power. I'm going to fail my Colonial Engineering class. I have to design a
colony for the final. If I lose data at the current rate I'm never going to get done on time. I don't even need it
connected to the Web. Only to a local net so I can use a blue print plotter. Damn. I'm so gonna fail that
class. Duo will give me fits. He's . . . " At Milliardo's skeptical look he snarled. "He's smart. He just puts up
that front to keep from getting his feelings hurt. L2 street rat . . . next time someone calls him that I'm gonna
pop them one. He covers up a lot. He's sensitive about things. He has as many degrees as I do. He learns so
fast it scares even me."

Heero looked up at a sculpture to keep from making a scene.

"Well, I'm sorry. He's just such a cut up sometimes, but I, of all people, should know better. His record is
impressive and he's . . . how many degrees does he have?"

Heero told Milliardo what degrees Duo had and which ones he had. The Prince looked suitably impressed.

"Let me get in touch with the Warden and see what I can do." Milliardo called the man and after some
conversation and a short wait he turned to Heero and motioned to the shelves of equipment and circuits.

"The Warden is sending for your lap top. After checking your schedule, he's going to let you have whatever
you need. As long as it's not connected to the outside you can have whatever you want. Don't look at me
like that. I know that all it takes is one cable, but the warden doesn't know that. I hope you won't abuse his
trust." Milliardo smiled in a conspiratorial manner. "I know you won't abuse mine."

Heero sneered. He knew why he wasn't allowed access to the outside net. But he also knew that if he chose
to do so, no one would catch him doing anything. However, he wasn't interested in hacking money or
information for sale. He just wanted to pass his course, mail Duo and have some fun. He didn't think that
was asking too much.

He picked out what he wanted, including components to build a monster PC and the ones he wanted to
replace in his laptop. Then he saw it. It was Gundanium. The ultimate case and he wanted it bad. So he
picked it up and went through the shelves again, he was going to build the ultimate laptop. Light, small, and
powerful enough to do anything he could think of. Milliardo watched with some amusement. It was so easy
to make the boy happy. Just turn him loose in an electronics warehouse with permission to gut the place.

More paying and arranging, and they left to finish their mall crawl with . . . ice cream.

"Don't tell me you don't like it. I know you do. You lived a deprived childhood, so you need sundays.
Besides it's full of calcium. Builds strong bones."

Heero snickered. Then replied cheekily. "You just want an excuse to eat some girly, whip cream covered
mess. But . . . " he put on a long-suffering face "I'll just have a Black Forrest with extra whipped cream and
two cherries."

Heads turned as Milliardo got the whoops.

~ * ~

"Maxwell, you know we're not supposed to hack secure systems. What are you doing?"

Wufei was just curious, he knew Duo wasn't going to do anything to endanger their hard won freedom

Hi Wufei. It's the floor plan for Allenville. And the security system schematics. They're laughable. There's
not even a fence just a brick wall. I'm going to visit Heero.

Wufei just gave Duo a stern look. "You don't need the schematics for the security system just to visit him."
Wufei held up his hand in a resigned gesture "Don't tell me. I don't want to know. Just . . . whatever you're
up to, be careful."

"Ok. Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen "

Wufei left, going to his room to find his bed turned down, with a chocolate mint on the pillow. He smiled
gently, ate the mint, and resolved not to bawl Duo out if he got caught doing whatever it was he was doing.

Duo gathered his equipment and departed just after dusk. He didn't need much, just dark clothing, heavy
gloves, and a small device to override electronic locks.

~ * ~

"Heeeerrrooo. Wakie wakie. 'Ro . . . Lover."

Heero slapped at the tickling thing in his face then stiffened. It was, wasn't it?

"Duo." He sat up with a jerk. "Duo! What the hell? You'll get us both in trouble. You're crazy!"

"Crazy in love with you. If no one finds out, no one will be in trouble. I checked, there's no visual
surveillance here. Kiss me."

So Heero did.

He spent several minutes kissing every inch of Duo, carefully stripping off his clothing as he did so. He
folded each piece carefully and put it on the chair beside the bed, even going so far as to stuff Duo's socks in
his boots. Duo hummed and moaned.

"Ro. Stop. You have to stop a sec."

Heero stopped just north of his objective.

"Why? You don't like it?"

"That's the trouble, I do like it. I'm not going to last long if you do what you were going to do."

Heero hummed gently against Duo's belly, then murmured. "It's been so long. I think we'll recover fairly
quickly. Wanna try for two."

"Wanna try for as many as my body will take. Ro . . . love you."

Heero smiled against Duo's neck *How'd he get clear up there* "Duo, love you, too."

Duo stiffened and then went completely limp. Heero panicked. "Duo . . . Duo love. What . . . speak to me.
Say something."

"Something. . . Ro, you said it. I . . . oh, shit. You said it right out loud. No mumbling or . . . nothing." Duo
hugged Heero sniffling furiously so as not to drip tears on the pillow.

"Yup. Therapy is a wonderful thing. Especially if you want it to work. Duo you were right. J messed me up
even more than I thought."

"Told you so in the hospital. You . . . well, I don't want to spend the night in introspection. Just make love
to me will you."

"Sure."

Heero knew all Duo's sensitive spots. The place between neck and shoulder, that little hollow where all he
had to do was lick and Duo went limp. The back of his neck where he kissed to make him tremble like a
leaf. The back of his knee when he lifted his leg a simple touch could draw groans and whimpers.

Duo also knew the right places. Ear lobes that caused a hitch in breathing when nipped. That spot under
Heero's chin that drew a deep groan. The bend of the elbow where a simple lick could send him trembling.
The odd spot under his breast bone that brought sighs.

They played each other's bodies like instruments of pleasure. The first climax left them both panting and
limp.

Heero finally shifted Duo gently to lay beside him.

"Top or bottom?"

Duo sighed, "Bottom. It won't do for you to be sore tomorrow. To many questions."

"Ok . . . I'll be gentile."

Duo kissed Heero on the chin then rested his forehead on the same spot. "I know. But, unless you're fooling
around on me, neither of us has gotten any since the day before the sentencing." Duo shuddered,
remembering the frantic, despair filled night.

Heero didn't dignify the fooling around remark with enough attention to even allow a grunt.

Instead he started all over again. Touching, caressing, licking. Duo panted and moaned; wanting nothing so
much as Heero touching every bit of him. He just melted and let Heero have his way with him. Heero rasped
his tongue over that special hollow just in front of Duo's trapezious and held him when he relaxed.

Duo whimpered, spreading his legs and squirming, silently asking Heero to take the next step. Heero sighed
softly, blowing his breath across Duo's erect and straining nipples. Duo shifted again, pulling Heero
between his legs and wrapping one over his shoulder, the other around his hips. Heero accepted the move.
Gently settling himself on Duo's chest for a moment, he accepted the tube pressed into his hand with a slight
laugh.

"Boy scout."

"You becha. God, Heero, touch me. I need you. Do something."

"I will, just be patient. I won't hurt you. Not even for this. Kiss!"

Heero slid one hand behind Duo's neck and caressed the nape with gentile fingers. The other hand found its
way to other places. Places that cried out for touch. Duo lifted his hips and waited impatiently while Heero
made sure he wouldn't be hurt.

When they joined all either of them could do was freeze for a few moments before they both ended it too
soon. Then Heero started to move, with Duo rising to meet each thrust. Sweat dripped and tears as well. Not
tears of pain, tears of joy, of completion. Soft moans were exchanged through kisses, groans were answered
with sighs. Their last shuddering breaths were exchanged.

Heero rolled them over so that Duo was limp against his powerful chest. He ran his fingers gently through
Duo's sweat stiffened bangs and kissed his damp cheeks.

Duo shifted restlessly. "Again? I could do it. You wanna?"

Heero looked at the clock and decided against. "Better not. They have a bed check in about twenty minutes.
We've just got time to shower."

"Bed check? You're kidding. In this place? Who here has the ability?"

Heero absently considered as they headed for the shower.

"Well, other than Milliardo. No one. But . . ."

"Milliardo? Milliardo Peacecraft is here? Jesus, they don't believe in tempting fate do they? You run into
him yet?"

"Yeah, in fact, he's my sponsor. You should see some of the stuff he bought me. Come on, stop yacking and
shower. . . unless you want to put your clothes back on over that mess."

Duo gave up, if Heero wasn't upset about being around Peacecraft then he wasn't going to waste their
precious time together worrying about it either.

They showered and Heero brushed Duo's hair out and rebraided it. He looked at his watch and grumbled.

"We better hurry, they'll check in about ten minutes. They only sort of stick their head in to see if I'm still
living or something, but you can't be here when they do. Come on."

Duo knew he had to leave but it hurt. He sighed and gave Heero one last kiss, then turned and slipped out
the sliding glass doors. He ran lightly through the small garden, vaulted from the wall to the roof and
disappeared into the darkness.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing beneath the old Japanese Maple that shaded one corner of the
garden. The figure that stood ready to give a boost if it was needed.

~~~~~~

I've got so many people to thank, I'm not sure where to start. I'm going to go down my list of E-mails and
try hard. If I miss anyone, please forgive me. I'm cramming this between lunch and house cleaning. If you
go to my bio my e-mail addie is good. Send me an e-mail and I'll answer for sure. Going to your bios is too
time consuming and I'm getting so many nice reviews that it's beginning to take up to0 much space on my
chapters. I'm really sorry about that, but I feel that long lists of thank you's detract from the story.

So here goes. Silvermane1, MelizaMac, MikaSamu, EquineAngel, anissa, Clarobell, Silver Phoenix 7,
Bombayoni, ZaKai, Dk joy. Thank you so much for you reviews. Several of you have given me good intel
on what I need to clear up. It will be worked into future chapters.