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.
Instead of coming directly to C-241 from C-125, Heero went to the second Peacegarden on C-102. There he found everything pretty much identical to what he'd found on C-125. He felt a rising anger in his discovery, but ruthlessly suppressed it, knowing only too well that the whole story could not be discovered until after he had had a talk with Zechs. To save time, he decided not to bother with the orphanages on C-134 and C-123, as the central accounting system gave him all the data he needed on all of Zechs's facilities.
Of course he had had to hack into it. There were two layers of data. One was for show. The other revealed a steady siphoning of funds in a slow and hidden manner into a deeply buried account belonging to someone called the Gardener. Monies meant for use by the shelters and orphanages were disappearing into this secret account. Withdrawals from the account seemed to be earmarked for an unusual amount of communications equipment and a cryptic category called "MS allocations". One logical explanation was that someone was building mobile suits somewhere using these siphoned funds.
Relena's fears, therefore, may be well-founded.
[I owe it to Zechs to talk to him in person before I act,] Heero mused on the shuttle to C-241. [Everything points to him being the Gardener. But I think I know him well enough to know that it's not like him to use children as a front for something sinister. Unless he's sunk even deeper into the hell he was in that set him up as the leader of White Fang. That's why I absolutely must talk to him in person.]
Heero thought about Duo Maxwell. The devil-may-care former Gundam pilot, the self-styled "God of Death", was no fool, though his enthusiasm had gotten him into trouble before. [Duo should know to be wary of Zechs. Perhaps Zechs really has changed... then what actually is going on?]
On C-125, Ginger Lyons got a call from the Gardener. "Is he gone? What did he say?" the man wanted to know.
"He sure doesn't talk much," Ginger murmured with a sigh. "He said 'nice place', and that was it. I guess he's not going to make any determination until after he visits all the facilities."
"The audit go okay?" the man asked quietly.
"Yeah, he only saw what I showed him. He's pretty adept on the computer, though, but I didn't give him much time to fool around in there."
"Good. Still, he may have a chance somewhere else. Change all the passwords, just in case. Oh, and there's a meeting in three days. Can you make it?"
Ginger shifted uneasily in her chair. "You know I don't like to be involved... on the other end. Do I have to?"
"It's pretty critical. You see... we may not need the boss much longer. We've been making alternate... arrangements."
The woman paled. "I see. I will certainly be there." When the transmission had ended, she stared at the radio for a long while, her thoughts whirling.
Bureaucracy often slowed the wings of change, but in this case, Zechs was glad. The director of Children's Services would not be able to travel with her two assistants to C-241 for another week. Relieved, Zechs excused himself to return to that colony. [I'll see Duo soon,] he thought on the shuttle, relieved and anxious all at once. [He mustn't love me -how can I turn him away from me without hurting him? I've done enough damage already - how could I have been so weak as to love him for that one night then leave him?]
Heero's shuttle arrived first and he took a taxi directly to the orphanage from the colony spaceport. When a smiling, round woman let him in, he introduced himself formally. Then an unmistakable voice cut in.
"Hey, Heero!" Duo Maxwell called cheerfully from one of the office doorways.
"You know this... investigator?" Cherry asked, astonished. "But... he's from Earth..."
Duo shrugged and sidled up to Heero, slinging an arm around his neck casually. "Well, he is now, but originally he was a colonist, just like me! Ain't that right, Heero, old buddy?"
Heero coughed in the choke-hold. Removing Duo's arm like it was a poisonous snake, he recovered his voice. "That pretty effectively blows my cover. Thanks, Duo."
"Any time!" Duo grinned maliciously and winked at the bemused Cherry. "Miss Cherry, this guy and I have some stuff to talk about... we'll just be a few minutes." He winked at her again and turned, the braid dancing, as he strolled back into Zechs's office.
Heero coughed again and followed him, closing the door behind them.
Duo plopped down in Zechs's desk chair. "So, what's the skinny? You're poking into Zechs's charitable enterprises pretty heavily, I imagine."
Heero just gaped at him. [He hasn't changed in three years... well, except physically.] Heero was taller and had broadened, but Duo was still slender and short for his age, a veritable sprite. "I'll be asking the questions," he replied firmly. "What are you doing working for Zechs??"
"So, is he in trouble? You find any dirt yet?" Duo asked casually, draping his boots over the desk top as he leaned back in the chair.
"I asked you a question..."
"You still don't know how to chill," Duo observed, then crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm teaching martial arts at the orphanage and helping out Miss Cherry with the administrative stuff. I fail to see how this is a problem..."
"But... Zechs?" Heero winced; that came out more strident than he'd intended.
Duo grinned. "It's been three years, Heero. People change. Besides, he's doing good stuff here. Why not?"
[How did they even meet?] Heero was wondering. The last two people he ever thought would have anything to do with each other were Zechs Merquise and Duo Maxwell. "So you claim that Zechs has changed?"
[Maybe he's mad he didn't find him first,] Duo thought to himself perversely, then had to suppress a smirk. "Hey, I'm just another guy, what do I know? I like the kids here, that's why I'm helping out. He'll be coming later today. You judge for yourself, Heero."
"I'm asking you," Heero said patiently. "What's he like now, Duo?" Then he made a decision. "I trust you, Duo," he admitted. "Though I hope you're not just being naive."
"Who me?" Duo laughed. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you." He settled down, sobering. "Actually, I think he's the most amazing person I've ever met. He's still carrying around a great deal of emotional pain from the war... but he's kind and generous, a very gentle man. The kids really love him." He leaned forward in the chair, narrowing his eyes at the other man. "You must talk to him."
"I realize that," Heero replied, frowning. [What's he not saying? What's going on between Zechs and Duo?] "You seem rather taken with him."
Duo did not smile at that. "What did you find out at the other orphanages?"
"Nothing," Heero lied. It didn't suit him to reveal what he'd found just yet, and though Duo was an old friend - of sorts - it didn't seem prudent to tell a known blabbermouth.
"Right," Duo muttered. [Smart guy, he's not telling me a thing. Hmmm...] "Well, I thought you and I were friends, Heero, but I suppose it's been too long for that, eh? Didn't you tell me that Zechs saved your life?"
"Yes, I did. And he did," Heero admitted, turning away. "Nevertheless, I am conducting an investigation."
"So you say," Duo murmured. "So, you do this sort of thing a lot? Working for the Princess?"
[He still talks too much,] Heero mused. "I do this sort of thing here and there. Are you expecting him here soon?"
[What's this guy thinking?] Duo wondered, then realized he had always wondered that from the moment he met the enigmatic Heero Yuy. [Some things never change.] "Yeah, I think so. So, how is the Princess?"
Heero narrowed his eyes at the boy with the long braid, which now was even longer. "She's the Minister of Outer Space, not the Princess. I..."
They were interrupted by a sharp rap on the door. Duo jumped up and maneuvered past Heero to answer it. "Who... oh..." He opened it to reveal a worried looking Deener. "Hey, honey, what's up? This is sort of a business meeting..."
Deener wedged herself in the doorway so he couldn't simply close the door on her, and fixed her gaze on Heero, who looked back benignly. "Who's he?" she asked a bit rudely. It reminded both former pilots uncomfortably of Relena.
Duo recognized Deener's information-seeking mode. She wouldn't be easily gotten rid of. Likely the sensitive girl picked up that something was going on. "Ah, this is Heero, Deener. He... um..."
Deener, clutching a toy space shuttle - Duo had yet to see her with a doll -neared and looked intently up at the silent, solemn man. "You're here to see Papa Peace," she decided.
Heero looked confused for a split second. "If you mean Milliardo Peacecraft, yes, I am here to see him," he replied smoothly. Then his severe demeanor softened. "You call him 'Papa Peace'?"
"Yes," she murmured, glancing at Duo, then looking back at him. "Peace is all he's ever wanted."
It wasn't any answer Heero had been expecting from a little girl. "Ah... I see," he murmured, stunned.
"I told you, he's changed," Duo said quietly from beside him. [And I'm in love with him, not that I can tell *you*,] he mused to himself privately. [Oh, God, how I love him...]
"He's a wonderful man!" Deener exclaimed defensively. "When you meet him, you'll know that!"
Heero glanced away. "I have met him."
Duo noted that the little girl appeared either ready to cry or to shout. "Ah, look, Deener, we've got some more business to talk about. Mr. Peacecraft will be here to talk with, um, Heero here in just a minute. You can see him later, okay?" He grinned at her and winked.
The girl looked up into the young man's smiling face. [Something bad is going on, but Papa Duo will take care of it, I'm sure,] she thought, still suspicious. [He'd better...] Nodding, she gave Duo a quick, hard hug, then left the office.
When she was gone, Duo ran his hands nervously through his hair. "Man, she's something else, isn't she?"
"Intelligent child," Heero observed impassively.
"Yeah, well, she's also smart in other ways. Very intuitive, almost too much so, kinda like our old pal, Quatre, you know?" Duo leaned on the edge of Zechs's desk and folded his arms over his chest. "Like an empath. Say, you heard from any of 'em lately?"
"Not really," Heero murmured. That wasn't entirely true; in his work he'd made a point to keep tabs from afar on his former colleagues... all except Duo, actually.
"Eh, too bad," Duo sighed. "You know, you go through deep shit with some people and you ought to be friends with them forever after all that. I guess it doesn't really work that way after all..." He trailed off. Heero was barely paying him any attention, which was nothing new. "Though I don't imagine any of us have talked it all out enough even now... it's good to get another's perspective..."
"Perspective on what, Duo?" came an unexpected voice, deep and faintly rasping.
Duo started, straightening, as he realized Zechs was standing at ease in the doorway. "Oh! Ah, the, you know, war..." Then he lifted his gaze to that of the tall blond.
For an instant. That's all he dared. "Zechs, you're, ah, back!" Duo shoved off from the desk, making way for the man to enter his own office. "You remember..." He gestured toward Heero, all too aware of the ice-blue eyes that were still on him.
The gaze shifted reluctantly. "Yes, hello, Heero," Zechs murmured, nodding to the other young man solemnly. "I am glad you have spared time from your investigation to speak with me personally."
Heero looked up at the man against whom he'd fought so many battles... and who had saved his life at the very end of their last one. "Alone, please," was all he said, folding his arms over his chest, unsmiling and rigid.
Zechs felt Duo's surprise even before he glanced at him. Something warned him: [What is going on here?] "Ah, a quick question first," he asked hastily, a hand up to forestall an outburst from Duo. "Have you discovered something in your investigation of concern, Heero?"
[It doesn't matter if I tell him,] Heero was considering. [I've already got enough to blow his little enterprise to bits if it needs to come to that. And him, too, probably.] "Very well. Yes."
[No!] Zechs thought, stunned. [What could it be?] "I'd like Duo to stay," he said quickly.
Duo stared at him, speechless. [Heero *found* something on Zechs? No, it couldn't be... but Zechs wants me to stick around... what is happening?]
Heero glowered at Duo, then looked at Zechs again. "I suppose it doesn't matter," he replied. "Fine. Now, shall we get started?" Mentally he checked; his gun was loose in his pocket, within reach.
"Yes, of course," Zechs murmured, going to sit at his desk. He indicated for them to sit. He wanted so much to look at Duo, reassure him; the young man was having a hard time keeping quiet already. Even so, there was a strength in Duo Maxwell that Zechs wanted close during what he knew would be a very critical survey. Heero Yuy would be thorough.
Duo sat, a foot tucked under him as if he felt he might leap back out of the chair. He glanced over at Heero warily. [You better be right, buster, or I'll kill you,] he thought, tingling with apprehension.
Heero, of course, was cool and calm. "Tell me, Zechs, are you the Gardener?"
"What?" The response burst out of the older man in genuine surprise. [Gardener, what does he mean by that?] "I don't know what you mean." He frowned, bewildered. [Something wrong with the gardens? Maybe a building code. Let it be something like a building code, I can handle that...]
Heero was undeterred. "That's apparently a name in your organization - the Gardener. I thought it might be you. If so, I have even more questions, though for my sake, I suppose I should take you into custody first."
Duo leaped from his chair, indignant. "What do mean, Heero? What's he done, anyway?"
"Shhh, Duo, please," Zechs murmured, gesturing for him to subside. "I am unaware of anything I need to hide. He may ask as many questions as he likes."
Heero tilted his head at him slightly. "Tell me you're not the Gardener, Zechs." [Perhaps he really isn't...]
Frowning in frustration, Zechs nodded. "Heero, I built the gardens here and elsewhere with the children. That is the only gardening I have done. I do not know of any personal designation for myself or anyone else in my organization as 'the Gardener'."
"I see," Heero replied. [Very interesting...]
Duo was trying to keep his temper under control. "You believe him, I hope! I know I do!"
Zechs, to Duo's surprise, turned to face him. "Duo, please... it's all right. I trust Heero. I don't know what he's found, but it's nothing I put there. If there is criminal activity that can be associated with the Peacegardens, then I want to find out as much as he does. More. Please be patient with this - I may need your help."
The softly spoken words, earnest and pleading, went straight to Duo's heart and made no little impression on Heero as well. "Sure, Zechs," Duo replied, subsiding. "I... I'm sorry. I do want to help if I can."
"Thank you," Zechs replied with a little smile. But he was careful not to let his gaze linger on him, not trusting his heart around the boy yet. He looked at Heero again. "What have you found?"
[Everything in his body language,] Heero was noting carefully, [says he knows nothing. What's more, Duo is absolutely right. This is not Zechs Merquise any longer, nor is this the Commander of White Fang. This man has been deeply traumatized by the war. If I'd been in his place... considering what he's done... I might not be any different. Perhaps he's finally as Milliardo Peacecraft was meant to be... a gentle man of peace.] "I'll have to show you on your computer," Heero murmured, standing slowly.
When Zechs gestured for him to come around the desk, Heero did so, Duo at his heels. Zechs and Duo watched in fascination as Heero tapped at keys for a minute, then wondered when he froze.
"They've changed the passwords," Heero muttered. "That means they thought I might have found it. Damn."
"It, what's *it*?" Duo asked, scratching his head.
"The second accounting database," Heero explained, frowning as he concentrated on breaking back into the system as he first had on C-125.
"What?" Zechs snapped, then stared at the screen in horror as Heero successfully broke into the Peacegardens' accounting system, then revealed the second database. Silently he paged through, simply pointing at the damning entries.