by Anne
Author's notes: This scene is part of a bigger unwritten fic called 'Twilight'.
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency. I promise to return the characters in one piece, more or less, when I'm finished, but hold no liability for any physical injury or psychological trauma sustained by them in my fiction.
"Let her go," Quatre said, raising his hands. Next to him, Duo froze and dropped the poker at his feet. "I'll come with you, do whatever you ask. Please."
"Uncle Cat, you can't!" Michael shook his head, his gaze shifting between Quatre, Duo and Alicia. He struggled against the man who held him but to no avail. "Let her go, you bastard!"
The dark-haired man who had Alicia smiled, his grip tightening on the knife. He drew it across her throat, not pressing hard enough to cut her, but still enough to leave a mark. Alicia hissed, but didn't cry out. She was very brave and Quatre was proud of her, but he could still feel her fear. It cut him more than any knife.
"Let my daughter go," Quatre repeated, taking a step towards her captor. "It's me you want. You've already made that clear." Duo gave him a look but he ignored it. These men did not know that they were both Gundam pilots. He intended to keep it that way. One step at a time; he would worry about the consequences later. For the moment, his priority was to keep the children safe. He had a responsibility to them and would not allow them to pay the price of his past.
"Our superiors will be very pleased." Alicia's captor gave Quatre a nod. "Just the pilot we needed too. Your knowledge of the zero system will be very useful." He crooked his finger. "Walk over to my colleague," he nodded towards the red-headed man to his right, "slowly, keeping your hands where I can see them, and I will release your daughter."
Fear. Panic. Confusion
Trowa.
His husband would be picking up on both his and Alicia's emotions. Although Quatre was relieved that Trowa wasn't here; that these escaped felons had taken over their house when there was only he, Duo and the children here, that at least Trowa and their friends were safe and free to do something, he wished like hell they were. He had never felt so helpless. Giving up like this and surrendering to these men was going against all his instincts but he had to keep the children safe. It wasn't just him and the other pilots involved in this fight; they had all vowed not to endanger innocents, and to protect those they loved.
Reaching out, he projected love and a calm he wasn't feeling to Trowa. This would be okay. It had to be.
Duo placed a hand on Quatre's arm and squeezed it. A look passed between them. Duo had never needed empathy to know what Quatre was feeling. Twenty years of friendship had given them a sixth sense where the other was concerned. Quatre was buying time; that was all.
Swallowing he took one step forward. His would be captor closed the briefcase in front of him, a syringe in his hand. Quatre froze.
God. No. Please.
Alicia whimpered. Quatre gritted his teeth. He could do this. He had to do this. For his daughter. He would keep her safe, whatever it took.
"I've heard about you pilots, what you're capable of." The dark-haired man spoke almost conversationally. He was their leader; Quatre had seen the way the others deferred to him, but he doubted he was actually the mastermind in charge of this operation. No, although they had come here by chance, that they had chosen this house to hide in because of some quirk of fate, the plans they had stolen from Preventers suggested that this was merely the tip of something much bigger and more sinister.
"You have no idea," Duo muttered. The man holding Michael let him go, and he stumbled into his father's arms. Duo pulled him close, glaring at the man who had dared to threaten his son.
"We're just making sure you stay nicely cooperative." The red-headed man waited patiently for Quatre to reach his side. The journey seemed to take an eternity, and yet was over too quickly. Quatre hated sedatives; they terrified him. Under their influence, his empathic ability deserted him to leave him empty and alone, open to the nightmares and unable to escape. "One little jab and we'll take you and leave."
The man was telling the truth. Quatre reached with his ability using it to confirm his suspicions. They only wanted him; once he gave them that, they would leave those he cared about alone.
Alicia's captor lowered the knife and shoved her towards Duo. "Abb," she whispered hoarsely.
"It's okay, Alicia. Look after Daddy. He's going to need you." Quatre tried to keep his voice calm and failed. "Do this," he instructed, holding out his arm.
"Big bad Gundam pilot scared of a little needle," scoffed the dark-haired man, amused.
You have no idea Quatre's thoughts echoed Duo's previous implied threat. He winced, feeling the needle pierce his skin. Forcing himself to take deep breaths, he reached again for Trowa, already feeling their connection waning.
God, what was this stuff?
The room spun. He turned to give Alicia one last look, and staggered, his legs giving way. "I'm sorry," he whispered, wondering if maybe this wasn't such a great plan after all, and let the darkness pull him under.
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