Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ 1 Blood on the Window ❯ Dementia ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kayla was frowning as she stood with Duo, holding his wrist and looking to Heero in confusion. His gun was in evidence just enough to be noticed by someone looking for a weapon. I was wondering if it had become common knowledge that Duo had a knife. Well, Tailor.

I hadn't seen Jun since the night at the Burn, and it had been nearly a week now. I had been approached in the bar by a guy from Swathe, who told me that I was a fool, but nothing else had been said.

As angry at Jun as I was for that entire incident, I couldn't help but feel happy about it, secretly. Because of Jun, Trowa was moving back and bringing one of his quasi brothers-in-law. Because of Jun, I was never anywhere alone. Because of Jun, Duo was at my side almost constantly, and because of Jun, Heero was packing his fire-arm no matter where we went.

I turned Duo's ring around my finger, wondering again if I should move it. I knew I should give it back to him, but for some reason he never mentioned it when he did see it, and I couldn't really make myself just give it back to him. When I wore it at work, I got looks, but the man from Swathe who'd talked to me had studied it a long moment before announcing I was a fool and leaving. Of course, at work anymore, Duo would be sitting down the bar from me, sipping on water and watching the crowds.

"Hey, guys!" Trowa said happily, appearing from the walk-way and setting Alexia down so she cold run to Heero for a hug, smiling at us all, "Long time no see."

I grinned at him, feeling slightly embarrassed again. Quatre had decided that he wouldn't move back unless he had to, but Trowa had been more than willing to move before he'd even realized what had happened. I still wasn't sure how his brother-in-law had been brought into it, but I knew the guy was a boxer and very light on his feet.

Attractive, too, according to Tro, not that I was going there.

"Miguel is getting our bags," Trowa added, moving in to hug Duo, then me as we all shifted so Alexia could crawl into Duo's arms.

"How was your flight?" Duo asked, shifting around to face us better before his eyes scanned the hallways around us.

"It was fine. Leaving the rest of the family was something else altogether, though."

Duo smiled at him as Alexia climbed into my arms.

I focused past Duo, blinking at a guy who was coming toward us with a smirk. In the back of my mind was an "oh shit" type of thought, but something about this guy seemed disarming.

"Ya llege," he muttered as he reached us, smacking Duo upside the back of the head so that it snapped forward, then laughing and dodging Duo's return strike and moving to smack Trowa as well.

Trowa gave him a look as Alexia crawled into Relena's arms, "This is Miguel." Trowa informed us, nodding at the guy, "Miguel, this is Heero and Wufei. You know Duo."

Miguel pulled Duo into a hug, nodding, then offered a hand to Heero, studying his eyes curiously, "You're not quite what I expected." he informed the guy calmly, "It's something about the eyes."

Heero nodded in acknowledgement, not commenting.

Miguel turned to me, smirking slightly, "You're exactly what I thought, though."

I studied him a moment longer, "What do you mean by that?"

His smirk widened and he winked at me, focusing on Relena with a tilt of his head.

"Did I mention he's one to charm?" Trowa asked me around his head. "I think I forgot that."

I couldn't help but grin at him.

He laughed a naughty laugh, "And now we get to our lady. Relena Darlian, the sometimes prize of Heero-who doesn't appreciate her enough."

Miguel laughed, raising her hand to his lips and kissing her fingertips, "I'm charmed."

"Or charming." she returned, smiling at him, "It's nice to meet you."

"I think it's both." he agreed with a wink, then turned to look at Kayla with a tilted head.

"This is Kayla. She belongs to Duo."

"Belongs is a strong word, Trowa-darling." she replied, smiling sweetly at the guy.

He laughed, kissing her fingers as well, "Fear not, Duo," Miguel muttered, "I won't steal your lady…yet."

Kayla giggled as Relena laughed.

"Where's Hilde?" Miguel asked finally, looking around our group, "I was under the impression I'd finally get to meet her."

"She's working." Heero replied, flicking a look at Trowa-who ignored him pointedly.

"Ah, too bad." Miguel sighed heavily, then offered his arms to Alexia and asked her something I couldn't hope to follow. She crawled into his arms, replying. She informed him that she liked Heero with a smile, then shrugged and said she liked me too.

"I think you have good taste." he muttered, studying my eyes a moment, then turning to Trowa.

"Vamanos," Trowa muttered, turning and picking up the bags Miguel had set down behind him, "I want to get back to the house."

"We have somewhere to go first," Heero muttered, looking us all over with consideration, "At least Duo and I do…maybe you should come, too." he added, indicating me.

I shrugged, wondering what me meant by that.

"Let's all go," Miguel said, looking us over with a shrug, "It'll be nice to see the place."

"No," Heero decided, "Only the three of us will go…and Wufei, you don't have to."

I glanced at Duo, then nodded at him.

"All right." he passed his keys to Relena, "Go ahead and head back to the house, this shouldn't take too long."

Relena nodded, then led the group of them away.

Kayla hesitated.

"We'll be back to the house in a while," Duo reassured her, "You can go there or head home, whatever you'd like."

She sighed, then nodded, turning to catch up with Relena.

.

I sighed, staring out the window of the car as Heero drove us near his neighborhood, then well past it. He hadn't told us where he was going yet, but I had a feeling it would be something like Wufei had done, springing on me the fact that Jun was a syndicate leader when we were within twenty feet of the guy.

"What are you thinking?" Heero asked, meeting my eyes in the review mirror.

"My own thoughts. Why?"

"I'm taking you to the heart of hell," he replied, flashing me a grin.

I rolled my eyes at him, "And ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil…"

His eyes narrowed.

I narrowed my own eyes, "Because Shinigami rules when death is near, and none shall be wanting under his gaze."

His laughter sounded naughty, but Wufei had frowned at me.

I laughed as well, shaking my head, "Where are you taking us?"

"We're going to meet Jesse Fallorn." he replied easily.

"Who?"

"The leader of Jaded?" Wufei asked in confusion, "Why?"

"Because he knows me for what I am, and I need to introduce him to Duo since he's my partner now."

"As Tailor." Duo informed him, "Tailor Johnson, what does he know you by?"

Heero's eyes went evil, "Heero Yuy."

I blinked, looking to Wufei.

He shrugged, "Everyone here knows me by name. They just don't seem to think I was ever a Gundam Pilot."

I nodded, considering this.

"He'll like you," Heero informed me, "You're all churchy when you want to be. Just pull the sacred shit," he crossed himself backwards, "and things will be fine."

"You're encouraging him?" Wufei asked skeptically.

Heero smirked at Wufei, "In case you hadn't noticed, he's been spending every fuckin' night with Kayla, so I'm not too worried about him backsliding. She's capable where you're not."

"Knock it off," I muttered, looking back out the window.

He laughed more, then turned down a road.

I didn't say anything to him for a long time, considering what I'd do about this. I knew that Heero would introduce me by name, even though I didn't want him to. This was more than just a random introduction as well. I'd been seeing Heero give me considerate looks ever since Wufei'd moved back in.

The house he pulled up to was a rather opulent one, and it had the look about it of a constant party. I could hear people laughing in the backyard, and Heero led us in that direction when we'd gotten out of the car.

There was a trail worn into the grass as if every person from every car that was parked out front had walked this way.

When we cleared the backyard, Heero paused under an arbor, looking the people over. There were a handful of ladies in and around the pool, and men in other random pockets all over the huge backyard. Heero's attention landed on a skinny blond man who was sitting shirtless under an umbrella with many people around him.

Jesse was giving him a politely curious look.

"Don't move quickly," Heero told us, starting to lead us around the pool, "There are people out here with guns who get off on killing."

"Your type of crowd, then." Wufei muttered.

Heero snorted, "I get off on blood, dumb-ass, don't be a prick."

Wufei muttered something in Chinese about speaking the truth.

"Hey, Jesse." Heero greeted, moving through the people and offering his hand.

"Heero, Wufei, nice to see you again!" the man muttered, rising to his feet to shake Heero's and Wufei's hand as people looked us over with narrow eyes. Jesse gave me a curious look.

"This is Duo Maxwell," Heero explained, moving aside so I could take his place, "My partner."

"Partner? I didn't know you worked with a partner." Jesse was giving him a confused look.

I lowered my hand, raising an eyebrow at him.

"This is Jesse Fallon," Heero informed me without acknowledging the evident question.

"Nice to meet you." I said politely, fingering my cross necklace in irritation.

Jesse's eyes fell to that, and he met my eyes curiously.

I smiled, "The lord must truly be smiling at me to have me in such favorable company."

Sometimes I loved being able to talk pure shit.

Jesse offered his hand quickly, "Excuse my manners, sir."

"Call me Tailor, please." I muttered, accepting his hand before I realized what I'd said.

"You also have a pseudonym?" he asked with a grin.

"No, we like the feds knowing our every move." Heero muttered sarcastically to Wufei.

I smiled at him and nodded, "I'm more commonly known as Tailor Johnson."

"You're that fucker who pissed off Swathe, aren't you?" one of the surrounding guys asked, amused.

Jesse gave him a withering look, "Watch your language."

The guy blinked at him, then at me-I'd frowned.

"I apologize," the guy muttered, rising to his feet and offering his hand, "I don't think about what I say sometimes."

I nodded, accepting that, "What do you mean, pissed off Swathe?"

He studied me a moment, "Well, Martin was ranting about some new guy named Tailor to his goons a while back. I just figured that it fit."

I shrugged, "I don't know, I don't know how I'd have annoyed him."

"You've been palling around with Wufei," Jesse muttered with a smirk, "And since you've arrived, our Wufei has been wearing a ring on his ring finger." he looked pointedly to Wufei's left hand, "It's common knowledge that Wufei is not…picky. I'm sure he's just jumped to conclusions."

"Actually," Heero muttered before I could say more, "That's what I came to talk about."

"Wufei not being picky?" Jesse was attempting a joke, and I could tell he was almost scared of Heero.

"No, actually. About Wufei and Jun."

Jesse focused on Wufei, his eyes narrowing.

"We went to Burn last week," Wufei explained, holding his eyes as well, "He'd given me passes-but he was waiting for me. Tried to proposition me."

"Did you do it?" Jesse was smirking.

"No, actually." Wufei replied levelly, "I turned him down and he pulled a gun on me."

Silence fell over the group.

"Tailor's a fast talker when he needs to be," Wufei went on, "And that's probably what pissed Jun off about it. I've moved back in with Heero."

Jesse's face split into a truly amused grin.

"I thought you'd appreciate that." Heero muttered, smirking as well, "So I figured I'd be the one to tell you…and introduce you to my partner."

Jesse focused on me again, thinking about that, "A man of god and an assassin?"

I pulled my knife out and held it near his face so he got a good look at it, "The lord forgives all sin."

Heero's laughter was shocked and pleased.

I ignored the men who'd pulled their guns out as Jesse tilted his head to study the knife, "A hunting knife, Mr.…Johnson?"

"It's amazingly sharp." I replied, tilting it so he could see the edge of the blade-ignoring that he'd gestured for his men to put up their weapons.

"Very nice." he muttered, meeting my eyes again, "I've seen you at mass."

"Yes." I agreed, re-sheathing the thing.

"And you," he met and studied Wufei's eyes a long moment before looking to the ring again.

I glanced at my ring as well, studying the sapphire a long moment before meeting Wufei's eyes.

His look was questioning.

"Well," Jesse said after a moment, looking around, "Draw up a chair…have a drink…take a dip?" he met my eyes questioningly, "I know it's been hellaciously hot. I don't mind if you have no swim-suit."

"We can't stay, unfortunately." Heero muttered before I could say anything, "A friend just arrived on the colony…Trowa Barton. He's also moving in with me."

"Fortifying the citadel?" Jesse's eyes lit with amusement and he looked to Wufei, "You're not really that worried about poor Jun, are you?"

Wufei didn't respond.

Jesse frowned, "I see…" he looked back to me.

I smiled at him, "I apologize for having to turn you down."

"Not tonight," he muttered, "But tomorrow, I'm attending a supper party. I'd be pleased if you'd come."

"If we can." Heero brushed the matter off, turning and starting for the arbor again.

"I must insist, Mr. Yuy!" Jesse said, chasing after us, "It would be horribly rude and disrespectful of you to turn me down, and you know how my men are."

Heero turned to meet his eyes levelly, "You're threatening my life so I'll come to a supper party? Have you forgotten that I'm an assassin, Mr. Fallon?"

"Is that a threat on me? That's hardly gracious of you, Heero. You're in my home."

"Of course I wouldn't threaten you," Heero replied in a honeyed tone, "It was a warning."

Jesse's eyes narrowed again.

"How are your relations with Jun, then?" Wufei demanded, studying the guy's eyes.

"Fairly well. We don't kill each other on the streets anymore."

"He's throwing tomorrow's party, isn't he?" Wufei seemed a bit annoyed.

Jesse smiled brightly at him, "As a matter of fact, Mr. Chang, he is."

Wufei turned away, not looking back at us as he walked off.

"Oh dear," Jesse muttered, not seeming to realize he'd said it.

"That's cold, Mr. Fallon." I said evenly.

He flashed me a grin, "Oh, but you could imagine my triumph when I showed up with Jun's prize on my arm."

I set my jaw, grinding my teeth together as I stared into the man's eyes.

"I see," he muttered, looking away from me-which made Heero smirk, "I apologize. Please forgive my rudeness. I'll see you at mass?" this was appealed as he met my eyes.

"We'll see." I returned.

He sighed, glancing over his shoulder at his people and meeting Heero's eyes, "You understand, don't you? I didn't really mean to offend Mr. Chang."

Heero nodded, "I suggest you try a more subtle approach next time." he glanced at me, then smiled at Jesse again, "You understand, don't you? I am no leader. We have no leader. We work cooperatively for an ends."

Jesse was blinking in vague confusion.

"I don't control Tailor," Heero elaborated clearly, "He'd kill you regardless of anything I said."

Jesse shifted back from me, meeting my eyes.

I smiled at him, "Good day, Mr. Fallon. I'll keep you in my prayers. Heero?" I met Heero's eyes and started to walk away.

I heard Heero chuckle, "There is no evil like that of a man of god." he muttered, then jogged to catch up with me.

"Fuck you." I informed him as we slid into the car. Wufei was sitting in the back, looking pissed.

Heero laughed.

.

I smiled happily as I settled back onto the bed, thinking about things. Miguel was making out like a bandit with the arrangements, because Wufei had willingly agreed to share the room with Duo, and both had passed on the idea of getting a set of twin beds. I wasn't sure how they'd both live in that room, but if they weren't making waves, why should I start? Alexia and I, of course, were going to share the same room we'd had for our visit. Miguel got Quatre's room.

And if it ever did become an issue, any of it, Hilde had suggested that I move into her apartment. She had a small two bedroom, so Alexia and I could share the bed there…or something.

I looked up at Relena, who was standing in my door, "Yeah?"

"I was just seeing if you needed anything."

"I'm good," I replied, smiling even more, "I want to rest today, but I'll go look into transferring my job here tomorrow."

She nodded, moving to sit on the bed with me, "What's your daughter doing?"

"Helping Miguel unpack," I replied, chuckling, "At least, she thinks she's being helpful."

Relena smiled, looking at the few bags of things I'd brought with me, "How much of this is yours?"

"That one." I replied, indicating the duffel bag that I'd crammed my clothing and important belongings into, "Miraina is going to send the rest of my stuff once I get settled in, but I couldn't very well leave much of Alexia's things."

Relena nodded

"Do you think there's really going to be an issue here?" I muttered, meeting her eyes. She hadn't gone into her own opinions on any of what had happened. She'd seemed remarkably calm when she'd called us, even though Heero had come in and started ranting about the factions of the city and how he couldn't kill any of them. He didn't want to be associated with whoever hired him or the leader of Jaded, which, he declared, would happen if he did that.

"I don't know," she muttered, thinking this over, "Wufei and Duo covered their tracks. If Jun attacks Wufei, it'd be admitting that Duo had kicked his ass. That would hurt his dominance of his gang. Plus he'd have the added bit that Wufei had turned him down vehemently, which would be a blow to his pride." she met my eyes, "I'm not saying he won't retaliate somehow, his pride has been hurt. I just know for a fact that Wufei can't be wandering around alone anymore. You an I both know that Wufei is capable of self-defense, but I'd rather not lose civilian lives over lust gone-wrong."

I nodded, considering that, "So do you really think it was necessary for me to come back?"

"It was my idea." she agreed, meeting my eyes, "A show of force behind Wufei might put Jun off…I know that hardly anybody knows who we all are, but Jun is the type to do his homework."

"So how did what happen, happen?"

Relena smiled at me again, "Lust gone-wrong." she explained, "We've been hearing enough of Jun for the past year and a half or so that I picked up on the fact that the guy has more than a passing interest in Wufei. And really, Wufei brought it upon himself. He flirts outrageously with money."

I had to grin at that.

She shrugged, "Jun is just…special." she decided, rising to her feet, "Come on, the guys are back."

I blinked, I hadn't heard the car.

"Tia 'rena?" Alexia asked, stopping in the door, "Can I get some juice?"

"Of course, come on, Precious." Relena replied, following my child as she ran down the stairs, telling Relena all about how she was being so helpful with Tio Miguel.

I stepped into the hall, hearing car doors closing and meeting Miguel's eyes.

He studied me a long moment and sighed, "How deep are you taking me?"

I studied him a moment longer as the front door opened, "All the way to the bottom…and then some."

He smiled at me, dropping his eyes, "I never really believed you, you know…about the wars. I saw you on TV, even while you were with Letti, and I could never quite believe that you were a war hero."

I shrugged at him, "I know it is a fact, I don't need you to believe me."

He nodded, meeting my eyes, "I can tell now, I know it for a fact."

I studied him more, wondering what he wanted to hear as footsteps landed on the stairs.

"Whatever you do," he added, "I'll be here to back you up." his eyes flicked to the stairs and a slow grin spread across his face, "I know you don't want me as a lover, now, but I'll be there for you."

Duo's head appeared, his eyes startled as he studied Miguel.

Miguel winked at me, then disappeared into the bedroom.

Well, there was one way to get Wufei's attention to a fact he couldn't otherwise verify without possibly embarrassing himself or Miguel. Very clever.

Duo studied my eyes a long moment and I raised my eyebrows. He smirked at me, moving into his bedroom and shutting the door behind him. Before I even hit the stairs, Wufei was moving past me, nodding at me and also disappearing into the bedroom, shutting the door-and locking it.

I stared in disbelief.

Heero was at the bottom of the stairs, grinning at me, "He just locked the door, didn't he?"

I nodded, studying Heero's smirk and thinking back to the comments made about Duo and how Duo'd been acting toward Wufei…wondering if I may have overlooked something.

"Daddy, Hilde's on the phone," Alexia informed me, standing next to Heero, my cell phone pressed to her ear.

"Ooh," I muttered, hopping the last few steps to take it from her as Heero's expression turned to openly amused, "Hilde?"

"Hey, Tro," Hilde said pleasantly, "Have you thought anymore about moving in with me?"