Disclaimer: The characters belong to Sotsu, Sunrise, Bandai Entertainment, I neither claim them nor certainly make any money off them!
Pairing: 6x2
Rating: Lemony in places
Time Setting: Post-series, three years later (minus events in Ground Zero, Blind Target, Endless Waltz as when I started this, I hadn't seen or read about these yet)
Summary: A chance meeting leads to the recovery of a wounded heart.
In ten minutes, Heero Yuy had managed to save the critical database evidence, then disable the system so that no changes could be made to it. In addition, the network at the secret White Fang base was infected with a virus that would take effect after the start of the meeting, snarling up their systems past recovery, including the computer on-board systems of the Virgos.
Ginger Lyons was turned over to colonial police on their way to the meeting in a local hall a few miles away. In the car, Heero and Duo checked and stashed the weapons they'd brought with them. Zechs, who had changed clothes at the orphanage, choosing an outfit that would have a useful effect, smiled at the intense concentration of the two young men.
Once arriving at the hall, Duo and Heero rapidly disabled the two guards to the doors, then all three entered, having timed it so that the meeting should already be underway. "I may do some startling things," Zechs warned them in a whisper. "Please trust me. If what I plan works out as I hope, the White Fang will dissolve as an entity today. The police should already be at their base, so this should be the last stand."
"We're with you all the way," Duo murmured, brandishing the semi-automatic weapon he was carrying. Heero only gave a curt nod.
"Then... shall we?"
They entered the back of the hall. Zechs wore a long, white trenchcoat very reminiscent of the coat he wore on Libra, and the rest of his clothes were white as well. He strode several feet down the front aisle, knowing he would be definitely noticed. To either side of him, his two bodyguards were primed, eyes darting about looking for possible snipers.
"There you are, Danzer," Zechs called loudly. The hall fell dead silent, then it erupted with loud whispering. The Commander was back!
"You!" The man named Danzer Quinze retorted, paling. He knocked over a chair stepping to the front of the stage. "You are not needed here anymore!"
Then a shot rang out. As Zechs whirled, he saw a man far off to the left drop, and a wisp of smoke issue from Duo's gun. "Try that again, I'll aim for the heart," Duo snapped loud enough for half the hall to hear.
[Nice shot,] both Heero and Zechs thought, impressed.
More men stood, bewildered, but a couple more guns were drawn. Heero shot one out of another's hand. Then a powerful voice announced behind him, "You should not be shooting at Gundam pilots!"
Another silence, but this time, a surprised gasp. Both Heero and Duo glanced at Zechs in shock, then at each other, but they remained vigilant. Why had Zechs revealed them??
Zechs was continuing slowly down the aisle. "Yes, the Gundam is the symbol of the rebellious colonies," he was saying. All eyes were on him, and not a few of the White Fang were looking at him extremely nervously. "I flew a Gundam and so did they, fighting for your peace. Now you repay me, Danzer Quinze, by stealing my money to start another war?"
Heero nodded, beginning to understand. [Zechs knows the White Fang revere the Gundams!] He nodded at Duo, who still looked uncomfortable.
"Yes, we'll start a war without you, Milliardo Peacecraft!" Danzer snarled angrily, his hands clenched into fists. "Our Virgos will begin a new era of glory for the colonies!"
Zechs ignored him, looking around at the ranks of the White Fang. "Once you respected me and let me lead you," he addressed the assembly, reaching a hand out to them. "The colonies *have* peace now. Any other needs can be negotiated with the EarthSphere Unified Nation. We need dialogue, not more bloodshed!"
"We have to get their attention!" someone shouted.
Suddenly it was Commander Milliardo Peacecraft, returned as if from the dead. He fixed his eyes of ice on the speaker, drawing himself up to his full considerable height. "*I* can get their attention!" he retorted angrily. Heero and Duo saw a number of people flinch at the voice. "Do you doubt me? Did I fail you in the past?"
"No," could be heard from around the hall. Many glances flickered over to the Gundam pilots, wondering how their commander got them on his side.
"We have the Virgos now," Danzer was trying to say. He could see it happening like water flowing down a drain, his support evaporating in the face of their charismatic former leader, the power of the Gundams truly at his side now. Damn him for finding those pilots!
"Actually, you don't," Heero spoke up loudly, glancing toward the stage. "Call your base, you'll see."
That started up another round of loud murmurs and restless movement in the hall. Danzer looked panicky, then turned to a laptop set up on a table on the stage where his lieutenants were sitting. "Check on the base," he snapped to them.
"Er, trying, sir... everything seems to be down..."
Heero, to their surprise, jumped up on the stage and went to a microphone. Watching his chronometer, he started counting, "5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
Suddenly the ground rumbled. "That would be the Virgos," Duo announced cheerfully. "Ooops!"
Heero wasn't done yet. He drew his gun on the Gardener. "Danzer Quinze, in the name of the Justice Department of the EarthSphere Unified Nation, you're under arrest for embezzlement of funds and intent to incite riot and bloodshed."
"But he's just the ringleader," Zechs commented thoughtfully. The tone of voice sent chills around the hall. "While it's true that I cannot forgive Danzer for stealing money from children to build weapons of war, the entire body of the White Fang perhaps isn't entirely to blame." Suddenly he jumped up onto the stage and faced them. Behind him, Heero was putting restraints on a sputtering Danzer Quinze while the others with him sat frozen.
"Your leader is deposed," Zechs announced, casting his ice-blue gaze around the hall. "I am resuming command of White Fang at this moment. Is there anyone with a problem with that?"
[Damn, he's good,] Duo grinned to himself, observing how the sheep, er, White Fang were shaking their heads vigorously. He kept an eye on the three lieutenants still on the stage, however. As of yet, they seemed to be stunned and immobile.
"Good, then let's get this meeting started," Zechs muttered, and turned to one of the men on the stage. Heero had hauled Danzer off to the side and was putting a gag on him. "Unter, I think you and your friends there should be sitting out in the audience, don't you?"
The three men abruptly got to their feet and hastily made their way off the stage. The man called Unter timidly raised his hand once he found a seat. "Sir?"
"Yes, Unter?" Zechs asked, folding his arms across his chest. Duo thought he looked magnificent, like a white knight commanding the king's forces. Hell, he *was* the king!
"Sir, excuse me, but what is going to happen to us now?" Unter asked warily. He glanced at Duo, who still brandished his gun like he was itching to use it - and he probably was.
"That depends on how well you listen, Unter," Zechs replied solemnly. "You see, your involvement in this little venture has reduced your options considerably. You may surrender to the colonial police, or you may leave and be taken forcibly, or you may remain and give up your militaristic dreams of a new war and join me in *my* endeavors. Peacegarden Foundation is devoted to building homes and loving living environments for displaced children to grow up in, to undoing the damage done by OZ and White Fang in war. As a political entity, White Fang should exist - if at all - only to support the Foundation and to provide a forum for dissatisfied colonial citizens to seek peaceful methods of petitioning the government to address their concerns. Now..." He cast his gaze around yet again, making eye contact with many. "Those are your choices. Surrender, leave, or join the Foundation."
Heero had made sure that Danzer wasn't going anywhere and was unarmed before he joined Zechs at the front of the stage. Duo was still scanning the ranks, his gun still in his hand but the muzzle upraised.
"What about them?" someone asked, pointing to Heero.
"I'm an agent of the Justice Department," Heero explained for himself. "But I am a colonist and the concerns of the colonies are my own. If there are viable concerns that I can bring to more official ears, then I will. I would be willing to act as a liaison between the Foundation and the Unified Nation's Outer Space Ministry."
Zechs turned and exchanged a glance with Heero, nodding. [His purity is still astounding... and he has done so much for me here. How can I repay him?] "Thank you, Heero," he murmured, giving him a gracious smile.
"I'm already working for the Foundation," Duo spoke up. He, too, had been impressed with Heero's generosity. [Just a job to him, is it? Yeah, right...] "I want to help Mr. Peacecraft's efforts to help orphans and the people displaced in the war. Don't we all want to live in peace in space and have what we need to live? The Foundation can help keep the peace and foster peace in our hearts. Hell, I'm a former soldier, too, and surely you're all just as tired of fighting as I am."
"You didn't want to work with us, Duo Maxwell!" a voice called from the audience.
Duo whirled around to face the speaker. "Who's that... Meister? Hey, I didn't ever say I didn't want to work with the White Fang, just that you guys needed back then to get your act together and decide what you really wanted. Looks like you're still deciding..." He shrugged expansively and twirled the gun a couple times around his finger before returning it to a ready position.
"May I speak, please?" An older man stood up.
Zechs nodded. "My name is Kausch," the man began. "I was wary of Danzer's push to develop the mobile suits. I came here today to suggest that we go back to Mr. Peacecraft's original ideals, namely to embrace the pacifist teachings of Heero Yuy and the late King Peacecraft. I was hoping we could divert our energies to form a political action group, and stem the tide toward a military response to the EarthSphere Unified Nation's... lapses." He shrugged apologetically in Heero's direction. "The White Fang originated because OZ was using the colonies to create massive amounts of weapons. If we continue to amass weapons ourselves, we are no better than they."
"What do you propose, Kausch?" Zechs asked kindly. [If this change toward peace comes from within the White Fang, more's the better. I can't hope to hold them together in peaceful pursuits by my mere presence alone.]
The gray-haired man smiled. He had never been so glad as when Milliardo Peacecraft had walked into the hall. "Begging your pardon, sir, I propose the White Fang become the Peacecraft Foundation... and Peacegarden be an entity within the Foundation. That way the Foundation itself could work on a wide variety of peaceful pursuits, including political action activities. And the Peacegarden enterprises would be our charitable work."
Unter spoke up suddenly. "We did not do what Peacecraft did - he set about repairing the damage that we did to the colonies in the war - finding homes for the families of our dead comrades and providing a home for any orphans who suffered loss on either side in the wars. He has been doing on his own as an individual what we should have been doing as a group. Instead we hid and waited until we could get together the funds for another war effort." His voice broke. "We should be ashamed of ourselves... I... I support this proposal."
[Now we're getting somewhere,] Duo thought, grinning. He caught Zechs's glance and gave him a thumbs-up.
While murmurs passed through the assembly, Zechs looked down at the energetic, former Gundam pilot and felt his heart easing. [Both of them -the finest the colonies have ever produced. And Duo... if only I could let him... I could actually heal from my sins. To love one like this, so bright and fiery, so alive... I think I did die in the war after all. But he breathes life into me...]
"This proposal is acceptable to me as well," Zechs spoke aloud finally. "The White Fang must give way. I do not deserve to have my name used for the Foundation, but the name Peacecraft belongs to the legacy of my family, far more than I, and I would be honored to allow it to be used as such. And certainly Peacegarden can become the outreach of the Foundation to our fellow citizens." He bowed his head, feeling an overwhelming surge of humility. "I am now one of you - I am a citizen of the colonies now. If I may serve as head of the Peacecraft Foundation, it would be my humble pleasure to do so."
The hall erupted into clapping with a scattering of cries of "Peacecraft!" The scattering then became a chant, the former White Fang responding to the great heart of Milliardo Peacecraft.
Things progressed rapidly from there. Only a handful of the assembly slipped out in the next couple of hours; Duo radioed to be sure the police picked them up. Heero, in their stop at the police center on their way to the hall, had insisted with all his government authority that only those subversives about whom the police were contacted were to be charged. The remainder of the assembly - except of course for the immobilized and silenced Danzer Quinze - set about to form the new Peacecraft Foundation with Zechs.
[He is totally something else,] Duo thought with smug satisfaction as he observed Zechs work his personal magic, moving among the people, every inch the benevolent and forgiving leader, his charisma drawing them in effectively and enthusiastically. [If he could see himself... could see what a force for good he is... damn, and he's always been that, just misguided... and depressed. I won't let him get down on himself anymore. And I am going to be firmly in his life, whether he likes it or not...] He melted, looking at the tall, handsome, gentle man he hoped to spend the rest of his life with.
It took several days to set up the Peacecraft Foundation properly. Zechs would be the chairman of the board, and the board members would include the orphanage administrators, Kausch, Unter, and a couple more business-type volunteers. There was a tour of the orphanage for the former White Fang, many of whom hadn't known the true source of Danzer's funds. Heero set about doing a comprehensive security check on all the new Foundation's members, looking for possible trouble spots; a handful of those he referred to Zechs who conducted personal interviews... which led to a couple more arrests. Unter was invaluable in helping Heero weed out any who still harbored war hopes.
Finally it was time for Heero Yuy to head back to Earth, though he promised to return shortly and work with the local authorities on some of the issues of concern the colonists had. Heero was seen off by Zechs and Duo.
"I owe you a great deal for all of this," Zechs murmured, shaking Heero's hand, smiling warmly. "And I insist you collect on the debt somehow."
"Oh, I'll definitely collect on the debt, Zechs," Heero muttered, glancing in his usual cool fashion from Zechs to Duo and back. "In fact, I'm ready to start collecting right now."
"How's that?" Zechs asked, startled.
Heero poked a finger hard into Zechs's chest. "You and Duo are going to sit down and have as many long, hard talks as it takes to get you to let him into your life."
"Heero!" Zechs exclaimed, aghast. Duo, beside him, chuckled but restrained himself from responding more enthusiastically, respecting Zechs's anguish.
"I mean it, Zechs," Heero frowned at him. "He's the best thing that's ever happened to you. You *need* him..."
Zechs gulped. "I... know."
"There you go." Heero waved it off like it was no big deal. "You two belong together. Even I can see that." He glanced over to Duo, then to the other boy's surprise, Heero winked at him, the corner of his mouth just beginning to curve.
"Heero, I..." Zechs was at a loss for words, fighting with his feelings of worthlessness. "Yes," he breathed after a long pause while Heero looked at him expectantly. "I will talk to Duo."
"Good." The mask of cool impassivity was back. "If you don't, I'll send your sister up here to get you to do it. She can be... persuasive."
"No, we won't need Relena for this," Zechs muttered hastily. But he was unable to look at either of them.
"Heero, you're a great friend, you know that?" Duo said happily, grabbing the other boy into an impromptu hug.
"Yeah, I know," Heero replied, enduring the squeeze. He caught Zechs's glance and rolled his eyes, getting a small smile in response.
Duo released him, but held onto his arms, a captive audience. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask you - how's *your* love life doing, Heero?"
[Five more minutes of this, then I'm out of here,] Heero thought, steeling himself. "Well, I'll have to let you know another time as it really depends on whether Quatre decides he wants to be with me or with Trowa. Personally, I think I have the edge, but you never know."
"You... and Quatre?" Duo exclaimed, eyes wide. [Hmmm, really didn't think Quatre went that way, but...] Then he started chuckling. "Man, I could so see you with him. Hmmm, maybe you guys could be a threesome?" He winked at Heero to soften the outrageous statement. [Heh, and I used to think three years ago that he'd had his eye on Trowa... Best friend, my left eyeball!]
Heero winked right back. "Don't think I haven't thought of that..."
Duo roared, laughing hysterically, holding onto Zechs's coat sleeve so he didn't fall on the floor.
"Good luck, Heero," Zechs murmured, "and safe trip home. Please, if you see my sister... give her my regards."
"Thanks," Heero replied. "And I will definitely see Relena. She needs to know what manner of man her brother has become."
Zechs only widened his eyes at that. [What does he mean?] he wondered. They said their final goodbyes, then Heero was gone into the shuttle.