The year was after colony 198.
Peace had settled in the colonies, and for a brief period of time, Earth. But, with people still living on the blue planet, there would always be conflict, and now the living planet had all but thrown itself into yet, another complete World War.
The five Gundam pilots had known peace for only a few precious years before being recruited into the Preventers Operations. Une had moved the base down to Earth, bringing her crew closer to the battles and blood shed they had all tried to leave behind.
During the two years of war in which the pilots fought together, they had never lived together. Occasionally they would stay with one of the other pilots, but a formal residence for all five had never set up. Now Une had her ‘A-Team’ living in a 6 bedroom mansion in the downtown California area, about 5 miles from the Preventers base.
The five had been reluctant at first, but their adaptive personalities allowed them to adjust to the new lifestyles the other possessed. It had been difficult at first. Very difficult. More than one bullet had flown and a fair share of sharp objects followed the bullets.
Heero’s regimented and hard instilled soldier instincts were great for the battle field, but were not made for a home. He insisted that no personal belongings be left out, just incase of an attack or some unknown enemy was trying to break in and gather information. He would lock himself up in his room and work on updating the database for the Preventers master computer. Three, forths of the time Duo would find a way into the room and talk… and talk, and talk. He would talk until the vein in Heero’s temple started to throb, and a migraine worked itself into his forehead. This ultimately lead to Heero chasing Duo with a gun, usually once around the room, then down the hall, through the kitchen, over the couch into the living room, and out the front door. It would only be when Heero returned to his room that he realized, Duo, had stolen his laptop.
Duo, with his fun, almost party-like college student behavior, had pulled pranks every chance he got, and had a nasty habit of leaving things everywhere. There had been a few instances where the others had tripped over his belongings, whether it be shoes, clothes, or odd toys. They couldn’t quite figure out how the braided teen could pilot and fight flawlessly, and give a perfect, and meticulous mission report, but couldn’t organize his own room. Needless to say, if they caught Duo walking out of a room with a silly, sly grin on his face, they had learned to turn around and leave the booby-trapped room for someone else.
No one had too many problems with Trowa, he typically kept to himself. But when an arguing pair stumbled upon the quiet room he had claimed for reading, all hell broke loose. Trowa was full of what Duo like to call, ‘Silent anger’. He would glare death onto someone, or pull a fast prank on them as compensation for interrupting his reading. But if his buttons were pushed right, he would yell back, which surprised the others. It had actually shut Heero up when he was yelling about them leaving their belongings everywhere. The Japanese teen had froze when Trowa had yelled, and looked back at him with wide Prussian eyes. Score one for Trowa.
Quatre was like the mother of the group. He watched over the other pilots, babied them when they came back from missions injured, and tried to mediate the fights. But, despite the calm disposition, the blonde had a nasty temper when he was pushed too far. Surprisingly, it had been Trowa to discover this, after coming home at 3:19 in the morning, with a bleeding arm. He had been tired and snapped at Quatre for babying him. Quatre, in return, snapped back to Trowa that he was being an anti-social jerk who would rather bleed to death than let a friend help. Again, needless to say, this shocked the team as well.
It didn’t surprise the pilots that Wufei liked to be alone most of the time. He had always been the solitary one. Only giving his input when he felt necessary and being overly blatant about it. Almost immediately a prank war started between he and Duo. It quickly died when the American woke up with brightly dyed orange, pink, and yellow hair, no eyebrows, and a uni-brow drawn on with permanent pen. Wufei could only smirk triumphantly as Duo tried to find unusual ways to hide his face and fading dyed hair.
Things only escalated from there, at one point it landed Heero in the infirmary with a concussion and a sprained knee.
It had been Wufei to settle things down. The Chinese man had been fed up with the childish attitudes everyone insisted on portraying, and quickly put a stop to it. He locked all five of them in a cell at the Preventer’s base until they all reached an accord.
Unfortunately that took the better half of two days.
Since then only a few minor fights had broken out. The team grew stronger as they bonded and got to know each other as people, not as fighters. In fact two tightly knitted bonds had formed between the group.
Heero with Duo, and Quatre with Wufei. Trowa floated between them whenever he felt like it.
Duo had once been asked how the relationships started, but only shrugged let out a small laugh, “No idea, one night I’m wantin’ ta kill the guy and the next I’m sleepin’ with him! Makes absolutely no sense, but tha’s whad I love about it!”
Quatre and Wufei would only shrug and give each other sly smiles whenever they were asked how they got together. “Luck?” Would be the blonde’s simple answer to the question, while Wufei would glare and ask, “Does this truly involve you? Or do you get a perverse pleasure nosing into others business?”
Yet, when someone asked Trowa, the Latin would roll his eyes and glare slightly, “All I’m going to say is that downstairs guest bedroom is looking pretty comfy right now, because they’re all too loud…and at the weirdest hours of the night..”
The living arrangement had finally settled in, and everyone was finally getting along. They had let up on their bizarre pet peeves, and just rolled with things. Except Duo’s, who still was forced to clean up after himself. Although, whenever getting back from a mission, the rule was all but dropped for the individual, until they adjusted to the time zone, or were healthy enough.
The American had just returned from a one month mission out in the heart of Southeastern Asia. He had traveled back and forth between Thailand and Vietnam tracking a group of men, who were thought to have connections with a few higher positioned men in a new terrorist group threatening Australia. He had been back only a few short hours and had enough energy to take a shower, munch on something Quatre had made, and then sleep in Heero’s bed.
Heero had taken pity on Duo, and picked up the clothing trail, which lead from the front door to the kitchen, and then up the stairs. He watched Duo sleep from his desk chair, his body turned so he could sit backwards, his elbows resting on the top of the chair, his arms folded, and his chin resting on his strong forearms. In reality, Heero was still emotionally adjusting to this new Duo. The one he was dating, and not the friend, and fighter he knew. He had never felt love before, but felt a strong emotion when it concerned Duo, and Duo’s well being.
Could he call it love?
Perhaps.
Shaking his head slightly, Heero watched Duo shift. A small smile reached the Japanese teen’s lips as the American stretched slightly and rolled onto his stomach. He felt safe in his room just watching Duo, he felt a sense of calmness over come him as he gazed at his lover. Slowly letting himself get lost in the comforting feeling, Heero sighed softly and relaxed himself. However, it didn’t last long.
The all too familiar beeping from his laptop caught his ears. Picking his head up, Heero looked over his shoulder to see what the problem was. He would get random e-mails from co-workers with questions. Sometimes Noin or Sally would drop him a line, but as of late the messages he received were from Une about missions.
Reaching back with one hand, he gently pressed the space bar down, and watched with lazy eyes as another mission popped up. He scanned it quickly looking to get the jest of the e-mail, but stopped and started over once he read the first line.
“What?” He murmured quietly, before getting up and actually facing the machine.
MISSION: PILOT RELOCATION
New terrorist activities have been citied across Australia. The Preventers base in Sydney has requested pilots 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05 to report to Australia.
Report East of the city of Derby, and meet a local guide. The guide will take the five across the Australia Outback. No direct flights into Sydney, due to terrorist activities in Queensland. Flight leaves at 5 pm, Pacific time, from local Preventer Base.
The trek ETA from Derby to Sydney is Unknown. Trek is by foot, and some nights are spent in local Aboriginal villages.
Missions will be based out of the Sydeny Unit.
EQUIPTMENT:
- Military issued hiking equipment
- Light clothing
- Light weaponry
GUIDE DESCRIPTION:
Name: Jake McCloud
Age: 18
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 125 lbs
Hair: Long, pony tailed, light brown
Eyes: Blue-Grey
Noticeable features: Tattoo under left eye. Circle, crescent, circle, crescent, tilts at the 45 degree. Matching tattoo on chest. Aboriginal wraps on both biceps, and ankles, one above left elbow.
Background: Born in Alice Springs. Raised with local Aboriginal tribes. Brought to Prevents one year ago. Clean record.
Scrolling down, Heero caught sight of the Australian guide.
“Koi, please…it’s 3:30 in the morni-- who’s that?” Duo’s raspy voice asked from the bed. The American’s violet eyes were sleep hazed, and his braid was slightly out of place, with strands astray. He was sitting up slightly, his body weight resting on his forearms. There was a pillow between them, his chest resting against the white fabric.
“Our guide through Australia.” Heero answered as he scanned the report for any more surprised facts. “We leave tomorrow at 5.”
“…Australia?” Duo asked, his voice holding a slow, disbelieving drawl. “…Why?”
Heero narrowed his eyes slightly as he read the repot over, it was brief, and seemed almost rushed. But it held Une’s personal computer signature. “Australia is being attacked by that new terrorist group.”
“..The ones I was tracking?”
“Possibly, the report doesn’t indicate which group.”
Pushing himself up from the bed, Duo let out a moan of discomfort as he sore body was dragged from its warm place on the bed. Taking the loose top sheet with him, the American wrapped it around his waist, and loosely held it with one hand. He shuffled slowly to the desk and looked over Heero’s shoulder at the screen. The bright light caused the violet orbs harm, forcing Duo to squint as he read.
“Weird…you sure Une sent this?” Duo asked looking back at Heero.
“…It has her signature.” Heero pointed out, he knew it sounded lame, but he couldn’t think of anyone who could hack into the ex-Lady’s computer system without being caught. Of course he could, but other besides the five in the house, he couldn’t think of a single person who would be able to manage a dangerous task. Sighing, he licked his dry lips, “We’re going to Australia.”
“Tsh, okay.” Duo stood up to his full height, and watched Heero type back the typical, ‘Mission accepted’. “Bed?” He asked in a hopeful, pleading tone.
“Hold on, let me finish reading this.” Heero concentrated on the words in front of him.
“McCloud speaks Japanese, English, and the local aboriginal languages fluently. Past in the village is unknown at present time.
Extensive knowledge of outback, plant life, animals and dangers.
Family dead, orphaned at 4 during the Alice Spring Massacre.
Preventer base has trained him in martial arts. Refuses firearms.”
“…Better be more interesting than keeping me warm.” Duo grumbled. He brought the blanket up around his shoulders and held the fabric close to him, trying to keep his body heat in.
“Orphaned at 4 during a massacre, tri-lingual and can use martial arts.” Heero responded, an eyebrow raised. “Refuses Firearms..”
“Can you blame ‘im?” Duo mumbled, “Massacre, Yuy. MAS-SA-CRE.” The American stressed the word, “It’s a good way to mind fuck someone.”
Heero gave Duo a reproachful look, before he sighed and closed the lid. “Go to bed.”
“Finally!” Smiling slightly, Duo wrapped his arms around Heero’s strong, broad shoulders and pressed his chest to his lovers warm back. “’m shweepy..”
Heero smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Duo, he gently moved the younger American so he could lift him, “You’re always sleepy.”
“Only when it serves my purpose.” Duo snickered, he wrapped his arms lovingly around Heero’s neck.
AN: There’s long awaited chapter 2, I have no idea how many people are watching this story, so yea, we’ll see how this goes.
R&R!