To: 04@colony.net, 03@colony.net

From: 02@colony.net

Re: Arrival

Hi guys! Just dropping you a line to let you know that Heero and I are all settled in at this new school. Quatre, pass the message along to Wu, ok? This place is great. Trust Heero to get us into some rich school. When he says ‘skim from OZ’, he really means it! This place is great. Heero’s mad ‘cause I’ve already got friends and he doesn’t. He can such a . . . never mind. We’re roommates, too! I think Heero did that on purpose because he didn’t want me socializing unnecessarily. Too bad for him!

So, are you guys all set up and everything? You all set up in secrecy, Trowa? How are things going between you two, anyway? Man, Heero just smacked me one. I shouldn’t let him read over my shoulder. He says I need to be more ‘delicate.’ This from the guy who just whacked me upside the head. And he says *I* have no sense of romance. Ch’.

Anyway, a couple guys are dragging me off to a basketball game. Me and Heero are kicking their asses! Let us know when you get settled in.

Duo

****

To: 01@colony.net, 02@colony.net, 03@colony.net

From: 04@colony.net

Re: Re: Arrival

Hello everybody! Just letting everyone know that we arrived safely at the Maganacs. Our journey was uneventful at best. Wufei is still complaining, which I’m taking to mean he’s recovered from his duel with Treize. He does have a sense of humor, though he does his best to hide it.

I’m glad to here that you two have settled in all right. Keep in mind that you can’t kill each other, all right? Roommates or not. You’re valuable assets to the war, remember? And for Allah’s sake, Duo, don’t blow your cover by being so outspoken. No, I really don’t think you’ll blow your cover, but I feel better having said it. Heero . . . try to loosen up. Follow Duo’s example. And quit giving the computer the Death Glare I know you’re giving it right now.

Trowa, please drop me a line when you reach your destination. (Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone what it is.)

Does anyone have any idea what we should do next? Send out any ideas, no matter how stupid. We may be able to use them.

Quatre

****

To: 01@colony.net 02@colony.net 05@colony.net

From: 03@colony.net

Re: Re: Arrival

Just letting you know I’ve arrived safely at my destination and my Gundam has been safely hidden within easy distance if I need it.

Trowa

****

To: 04@colony.net

From: 03@colony.net

Re: Keeping in Touch

I sent the others a brief message letting them know I’ve arrived safely. I thought I would send a longer one to you. I found the circus in Northern Europe. How far is that from where you are with the Maganacs?

Catherine, the knife-throwing girl I told you about, is glad to see me back. She says everyone else flinches. She also says she’s going to adopt me as her younger brother. Apparently she thinks I need a keeper. I hope you can meet her. You’d like her. She’s teaching me how to throw knives. So far no one at the circus seems to suspect who I am, though they’re much smarter than most people give them credit for. I don’t think I’m the only person who hides here. A lot of people come and go. We don’t ask questions about each other; everyone is happy.

As to your question, I had a thought about what our next move might be. I think one of us may need to infiltrate OZ. If we could get inside, we may be able to find out where the false information is coming from and get around it. I think Heero or I may be best-suited to go. Wufei doesn’t seem to like deception. Duo? For one thing I’m not sure he would survive the military haircut. Also, I think blending in is the last thing Duo is good at.

Why don’t you ask Wufei what he thinks? He seems to be fairly intelligent. If he approves you can ask Heero and Duo.

Anyway, if I spend much more time in my room on my computer, Catherine will show up and try to drag me out to be social. I’d rather go voluntarily. Write back soon.

Trowa

****

“Two points!” Duo jumped over another boy’s head and tossed the basketball for a perfect score. “Naa, Heero, how about that?”

“Hn,” Heero said, retrieving the ball and trying to ignore how good Duo looked in a tank top. Generally speaking, he didn’t care for showing up their schoolmates quite so much. However, it was making Duo happy, and Heero knew that if he tried to get him to stop, Duo wouldn’t. His plan was as follows: Give in gracefully.

“Love you too, Heero!” Duo called back as Heero tossed the ball to him.

Heero simply rolled his eyes.

Duo blinked. Was that a hint of a blush . . . Nah, he was probably just seeing things. Or maybe Heero was hot from the sun and the exertion. The lighting. Something. Anything other than Heero actually blushing.

He and Heero proceeded to wipe the floor with their schoolmates. Duo went off crowing triumphantly to get a drink.

“Here.”

Heero jumped as Duo pushed a glass of lemonade into his face. “Huh?”

“You looked thirsty.”

“Oh.” Heero accepted the drink, then considered for a second and grudgingly added, “Thank you.”

“Welcome, Heero!” Duo perched on the railing, overlooking the ocean. “Hey, new student!”

“Hn.” Despite himself, Heero looked over to see where Duo was pointing. “Oh. No.”

“HEEEERO!”

“It’s that psycho chick!” Duo gaped. By now he had been briefed on who Relena was, how she and Heero had met, and why Heero had been trying to kill her.

“Shit,” Heero muttered.

Duo grinned at him. “You don’t like her either, do you. I’m sorry I stopped you from shooting her.”

“You should’ve let me.”

“I realize that now. It’s too late, we’ve been spotted.”

“I noticed.” Heero squared his shoulders and waited with resignation as Relena Peacecraft came wafting toward them.

“Hello, Heero,” Relena said with an angelic smile.

Heero didn’t reply.

“Ohayo, ojou-san!” Duo said cheerfully. “Don’t mind Heero, he’s just worn out after a game of basketball.” He took refuge in babbling to protect his friend. “Do you like basketball? It’s too bad you didn’t get here an hour ago, you could’ve watched the game! Me’n Heero trounced ‘em, naa Heero?” He elbowed his friend.

Heero reflected that Duo was talking even more than normal.

“So what brings you here, ojou-san?” Duo asked. “Did you transfer schools like we did? What a coincidence that you and Heero would end up at the same one again!” He paused. “Oh, are you here because of your father? We were really sorry to hear about that. How are you doing?”

Relena hadn’t moved her eyes from Heero this entire time. At this, she gave Duo a sparing glance and said, “Fine. Heero, what are you doing here?”

Duo thought fast. The answer ‘hiding from you’ probably wouldn’t go over well. The truth probably wouldn’t be good either, but Duo Maxwell never lied. “Well,” he said, taking a deep breath.

“I was talking to Heero,” Relena said.

Duo blinked a few times. “Well, fine, be that way.” He glanced at Heero. “I tried, man.” He waited to see what Heero would say as Relena repeated her question.

“I don’t feel the need to explain my presence to you, Relena,” Heero said firmly. He grabbed Duo by the braid and turned around to walk away.

“Hey, watch the braid, man!” Duo protested as Heero hauled him off, leaving a puzzled Relena behind. “You really don’t like her, huh.”

“She’s annoying.” Heero released Duo’s braid and continued to walk at a rapid pace.

“You left your lemonade,” Duo said.

“Oh well.”

“You owe me one,” Duo said with a smirk. “I practically talked her ear off trying to distract her. Ah, never mind. Consider it an apology for not letting you kill her.”

“We’re going to have to move now,” Heero said, ignoring the apology. “I’ll find a new school while you tell the others. We’ll leave tonight.”

****

To: 03@colony.net, 04@colony.net

From: 02@colony.net

Re: That damn psycho-chick

Hey guys. Just letting you all know that me and Heero are on the move again. That chick that Heero tried to kill, Relena whatever, showed up here and blew our cover. Heero got really steamed about it, too. Man, he really hates her! I mean, compared to her, I’m doing really well! Maybe there’s hope for me yet.

So, Heero says he can get us set up about 300 miles away from where we are now by the end of the day. We’re moving tonight. Man, let’s hope nothing else goes wrong.

Duo

****

To: 02@colony.net

From: 04@colony.net

Re: Heero

"Maybe there’s hope for me yet."

And just what are you hoping for, Duo?

Let me know when you’re settled again.

Quatre

****

To: 04@colony.net

From: 02@colony.net

Re: Re: Heero

Yeah, you can talk! You’re the one who’s got that . . . that . . . thing going on with Trowa. How is that going, by the way? ::winkwinknudgenudge::

Duo

****

To: 03@colony.net

From: 04@colony.net

Re: Re: Keeping in Touch

I would really like to meet your friends at the circus, especially this girl Catherine. She’s making you social? That must be a sight to see. Northern Europe is a bit far for me to travel, but let me know if you come further south at all and maybe I’ll come visit.

Wufei happened to see your last letter, though he didn’t read it. He was amazed that you wrote more than two sentences. I tried not to be smug, but I don’t think I did a very good job.

I noticed in your analysis of infiltration, you left me out. Duo and Wufei, I agree, would be bad choices. But I think I could do the job too.

Have you heard anything from White Fang? Neither Wufei or I have received anything, and the silence is bothering me. OZ is being suspiciously quiet, too. Then again, I suppose that we are too, by their standards at least.

Please write back soon. I miss you.

Quatre

****

To: 04@colony.net

From: 02@colony.net

Re: Re: Heero

Duo, I notice you never answered my question.

Things between Trowa and I are fine.

Have you settled at the new school yet? Where did Heero leave his Gundam? And have you heard anything from White Fang?

Quatre

****

To: 04@colony.net

From: 02@colony.net

Re: Re: Heero

Hey, you’re a smart kid, I’m sure you can figure out what I’m hoping for. And things between you and Trowa are just ‘fine’, hm??

Heero left his Gundam in some cave somewhere or something. I left mine with Howard. I told him he could too, but he made the sensible point that leaving more than one Gundam in one place probably isn’t the best idea. Isn’t that why Wu hid his rather than bringing it with him for the Maganacs to guard? I’d rather leave mine with someone I trust. I know Deathscythe is safe. And no, White Fang and Pestilence have been avoiding me. I don’t think they’re chancing another disgusting letter.

Duo

****

To: 04@colony.net

From: 03@colony.net

Re: Re: Keeping in Touch

I didn’t mention you when it came to infiltration because you’re our strategist. It wouldn’t be logical. I also don’t like the idea of placing you in that much danger. I know you’re perfectly capable of taking care of yourself, but why go out of your way to be in danger when Heero or I are also both qualified for the job?

The circus is going to be in Southern Europe. I told the Ringmaster that I knew a town in Arabia that would be very receptive to us and managed to convince him to make the detour. We should be there in about three days. Catherine has been teasing me incessantly about it, suspecting that I want to meet someone there. I’ll write you again when we’re there. We can strategize. And maybe have dinner.

I miss you too. I’ll see you soon.

Trowa

****

Part Five
GW Fics